"Thank You for Smoking" Ethics Reflection

 After viewing the 2005 movie "Thank You for Smoking," directed by Jason Reitman, many questions arose regarding morals in the field of strategic communications. This was a key example where I saw a stark contrast between simple communication and "strategic communication"; Nick Naylor, the main character in the film, was able to spin his messages regarding tobacco and smoking in a way that was intriguing for his target audience, primarily children.

One of the key examples of this was when he was in court and was asked about the implications of not putting the skull figure on a box of cigarettes to convey the dangers to a broad array of communities. Instead of saying he would prevent his son from smoking at all costs, he instead said that if his son wanted cigarettes once he turned 18, then he would buy him his first pack.

The wording, the specific message, and the intention behind this bold statement is a prime example of what strategic communication is. His response upheld his views because he is the PR individual and lobbyist for the Academy of Tobacco Studies; however, he did not explicably need to say he endorses smoking. He highlighted the consumer's right to choose if they want to smoke or not.

Because of the moral and ethics, I would not be able to work in his position. Even if I did not smoke, as a lobbyist, I would be partially responsible for the next generation of smokers. 

According to the CDC, "cigarette smoking is linked to about 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths." With this statistic alone on my conscience, I could not associate myself with a brand that is responsible for these devastating numbers. But the tobacco industry is huge---the CDC stated that cigarette advertising and promotional expenses for this industry ended up being around $8 billion in 2022. 

Although this film is a great example of when ethics mix with the strategic communication field, it also shows how as future industry professionals, we have to be able to promote our company, business, politician, sports team, etc. in a way that makes the audience think that there simply cannot be a better option.

Even though smoking is discouraged by society as a whole, I do not think it should be edited out of old movies. Films with Humphrey Bogard, for example, portray his character smoking on various occasions. I believe the purpose is not to convince an audience to smoke; rather, I think it is for aesthetic purposes that add to the mood of the film.

When thinking whether an option crosses an ethical line versus a legal line, I think that although something may be legal, it will not always be ethical. Doing something for the sake of advertising while fulfilling any legal parameters will be allowed through the eyes of the government, but it could still cross an individual's set of personal ethics. 

If Nick Naylor can use spin to convince young generations to buy into smoking, then as professionals, we can draw attention to our products in an ethical matter and use spin to better the world and to better the youth. 

Postal Service Technology Timeline

 The evolution of the postal service throughout history shows one overarching theme: humanity's desire for connection and need to communicate across extensive distances. Through my research, there were different examples of empires or regions that claimed to develop the first postal service. 

For example, some of the earliest documented postal systems dates back to ancient Egypt around 2400 BCE. During this time, pharaohs used couriers (a person employed to deliver messages, documents, or packages quickly) to deliver decrees across their territories. At this time--and until the Middle Ages--the main purpose of the postal service was for government communication across their empire or territory.

Furthermore, there also were similar systems developed in other civilizations around this time period: the Han Dynasty, Islamic Empire, and the Mughal Empire are all key examples of the early forms of the postal service that developed a foundation for the system we know today. 

Another example of an ancient form of the postal service was the Zhou Dynasty in China. Developed nearly 3,000 years ago, it reflected similar goals as other early regions like Egypt: to facilitate communication between the central government and and regional authorities, specifically for military and administrative purposes. 

This was important because it allowed these empires to formulate plans for strategic defense and transit official commands. Something I found interesting is how drastically the purpose of the postal service has changed over time; now, we use the postal service to support our individual consumerism and personal communications.

Looking closer at ancient China--specifically the Zhou Dynasty--they had a very intricate system for developing a postal service in their empire. The system worked as follows: the Chan system delivered messages by vehicle; the You system relied on foot couriers; and the Yi system, which used horse couriers to maximize speed. 

Additionally, relay stations were known as Zhi, which served as resting points where couriers could exchange horses, rest, and prepare for the rest of their journey. 

The shift from government communication to personal communication started slowly in the Middle Ages. According to Britannica, Paris was one of the first cities where they "started to maintain corps of messengers to serve their particular needs." The main reason for the lack of personal communication was due to the lack of literacy. Only a small portion of civilians knew how to read and write, making it unnecessary for personal communication.

The catalyst for the change in literacy rates and personal communication can be credited to Johannes Gutenberg and his development of the printing press. Invented in 1450, this machine helped change the narrative regarding literacy. 

Now, because of the long-standing postal service traditions across various nations, our society is able to be more connected than ever. If we order something, chances are we see it on our doorstep the next day. Globalization created the need for universal access of information, allowing messages to travel quicker than ever.

AI Brainstorm

After watching the video In the Age of AI, I became increasingly concerned by the rate by which artificial intelligence is developing and the way technology is clashing with our daily lives. 

In the video, what struck me the most was the Alpha Go Lee Sedol Games where it demonstrated the game teaching itself, using deep learning tools that mimics the human brain. It was very interesting to have it explained this way, and I am surprised that humanity is to keen on creating something so powerful that has the power to change fields far outside of technology.

Another example the video touches on is the driverless vehicles. While the ability to see and understand scenes can be beneficial to the driver and improve safety, the way that technology progressed so rapidly is concerning because it is only until recently that computers have began to master camera components. 

According to PRSA, artificial intelligence is completely transforming public relations and strategic communications. A lot of this involves innovation, but the common argument that the human touch is what makes strategic communications authentic and real.

When I first came to High Point, the one thing that drew me in was the emphasis on being prepared in the real world. I am confident that High Point is doing what needs to be done to prepare students for the workforce mingled with AI, but it is also up to the students to gain an understanding for themselves. 

Privacy: Online and Offline

According to the Center for Online Safety and Liberty, there are numerous ways the government--both local and federal levels--can track information, both online and off. There are data breaches, data brokers, phishing, hacking, and more that are a great threat to the well-being of individuals across the globe.

After watching the TedTalk, the second video was quite striking because of the emphasis on false information and assumptive behavior. The speaker told a story about how a man in the U.K. was flagged for going to multiple political demonstrations, but he was simply attending these events to sit on a bench and sketch the protesters. The U.K. has different speech and security laws than the United States, but it is still concerning that they flagged him for simple daily tasks. 

Tracking people can prove to be assumptive, especially in this U.K. example. Furthermore, in the first TedTalk, the speaker detailed accounts of a father being tracked all over his town; he was simply doing daily tasks. There was even a picture of him in the driveway of his home with his daughters. 

Although I see some of this information being helpful in the instance there was crime, assault, or a crisis, it is disturbing that all of our movements can be tracked at all times. From whether or not people attend a place of worship to what extracurricular clubs they are involved in, the government and local police departments can track it all.

What bothers me is the internal conflict I feel between being relieved and being concerned. If me or someone in my family were to be a victim of a serious incident that required police attention, I would be grateful for technologies that could potentially track the culprit. 

On the other hand, knowing that the government can track my personal information offline is extremely overwhelming. Participating in online activities comes with its own risk acknowledgments; however, I feel that people should absolutely be able to maintain anonymity offline. There is a balance between safety and privacy, and tracking citizen's daily movements is not the balance that society needs. 

To protect ourselves from invasions of privacy, sources recommend strong passwords and VPNs as a baseline. 

Values of Free Expression

When looking at the Eight Values of Free Expression, the categories cover ideas such as protecting dissent, allowing for the promotion or free discovery of ideas, stable change, etc. Although these are all crucial in protecting democracy under the First Amendment, the marketplace of ideas is the most important to me and resonates the most through the turmoil occurring both nationally and abroad. 

A key example of the marketplace of ideas being threatened was the constitutional crisis that occurred under that Biden administration during the pandemic. Although all administrations face criticism--some worse than others--stifling the flow of ideas and using media censorship on doctors and scientists discussing vaccinations and procedures is an acute example of why this value of free expression is indispensable in society. For example, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya faced backlash for many reasons, mainly because he advocated for schools remaining open while protecting older generations. Regardless of his political viewpoints or partisan leanings, he spoke out as he saw fit based on his education and experiences. 

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was one of many that were silenced on social media during this time, and it violates this freedom because it stifled the dissemination of discussion and the cultivation of potential solutions to Covid-19. I don't feel a certain way about the exact information that Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was trying to share with colleagues and people in general, but the discussions he could have had with other scholars, scientists, and doctors could have saved many lives during the pandemic. 

For example, his research and viewpoints could have been incorrect when discussing how to handle a global pandemic; on the other hand, by sharing his experiences, he could had continued to collaborate with other people in his field and profession to have informed conversations about the subject of Covid-19 and how to handle society. 

John Milton, the author of Areopagitica (written in 1644), spoke out against government censorship in printed works. This is where the idea of the discovery of truth and the marketplace of ideas comes into play; Milton argued that people have the right to spread both truths and falsehoods in soceital conversation. I think that by proposing certain ideas, people have the chance to buttress their existing arguments with new ideas, debate ideas promoted, and disagree. Furthermore, I do not see this only being prevalent in science. 

As a writer, I enjoy reading other people's ideas, stories, viewpoints, diction, and more to learn about the possibilities and parameters of writing while giving a voice to people with unique or compelling backgrounds. Without the marketplace of ideas, I would not be able to read and learn about what other authors and poets are discussing, leading to a lack of diversity, culture, and overall dissemination of potentially groundbreaking ideas. 

Top 5 Sources of News

News found on the internet tend to be exceedingly polarizing, which is why I have accumulated my Top 5 Sources of news that balances both sides of arguments, debates, and overall international news. Some sources are more formal, informal or casual, and more right or left-leaning content to learn what both sides are discussing. 

1. NPR

I use National Public Radio, recommended by one of my professors, as a more nonpartisan source. Although they claim to have a more liberal audience with slightly more progressive views than a true bipartisan media source, they acknowledge themselves to be independent. I also appreciate NPR because they cover a wide range of stories from local to international.

2. TikTok

Although social media has a bad reputation for not providing legitimate, trustworthy information, I use TikTok as a foundation for news, whether they are related to politics, lifestyle, sports, etc. If I come across a person discusses a certain political topic, I do not deem it trustworthy until I fact check it from a confirmed source outside of social media. 

3. My family

In our family group chat, my parents will often share news from articles found online, YouTube, or other media sources. This can be related to pop culture, politics, sports, or anything else that has been discusses in my family. This is often a good conversation starter for when we are together, and because my parents do not exclusively read one singular source, I trust their judgement and opinions enough to have conversations about what is happening in the news.

4. CNN

Although I do not use it often, I like CNN as a factual source, whether it discusses politics, the environment, pop culture, foreign affairs, etc. I think that it holds leaders accountable for actions and speech, and although it is a left-leaning source, I will go to Fox News and view what the opposing view is saying regarding a certain subject.

5. NASA

NASA, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is an environmental-focused source that explores issues outside of pop culture or politics. I appreciate NASA because aside from reporting about news, they have the tools and resources to collect their own data and help scientists on expeditions. Because I am passionate about the environment, specifically climate change, I appreciate NASA's endeavors to actually make a difference instead of solely reporting on issues and events. Furthermore, instead of promoting polarity, NASA focuses on curiosity and inspiration, which are both topics shadowed by the bitter world of politics.