Communication Ethics
Promoting Truth, Responsibility, and Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age
(First Edition)
©2025, 304 pages
Paperback list price: $62.95
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The text equips readers with the practical skills they need to deal with difficult communication situations they face in a complex world. It features a case study approach that affords students experience in constructing arguments using a combination of traditional ethical theory with an updated focus on how to apply those principles in a challenging and ever more polarized society.
The book highlights the need to promote truth, speaks to the impact of technology on ethics and communication, addresses current controversies in the field, and more.
A timely and essential resource for today’s modern students, Communication Ethics is an excellent textbook for courses and programs in ethical communication.
Heather Walters is a senior instructor in the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism, and Film at Missouri State University. She earned her J.D. from the University of Maryland and an M.A. in both communication and K-12 educational administration from Missouri State University. Her scholarly interests are at the intersection of emerging technology, ethics, and public argument. She has taught university-level graduate and undergraduate courses in communication and media ethics for over 15 years. She is the author of Communication Ethics and coauthor of the bestselling Understanding Argument in a Post-Truth World.
Other Cognella titles by Heather Walters:Cognella Active Learning is available for this title! Adopting instructors can provide students with dynamic online learning activities that reinforce key concepts from the text, provide engaging educational experiences, and support various learning styles.
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Please note: Cognella Active Learning can be bundled for purchase with the text or posted separately. Contact us to learn about bundle discounts.
The Cognella Active Learning content for Communication Ethics includes:
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Adopting instructors will receive test banks and PowerPoints.
"The book describes communication ethics with a tremendous amount of breadth. It covers concepts in a conversational manner, but with a ton of description! It’s accessible to students and fills many holes in ethics instruction. The book covers many bases and content areas that are not included in other books I use. I also enjoyed the writing style. It flowed well and kept me interested, and I think students would agree. It’s not overly theoretical or dense; the paragraphs are short, but well researched and substantial."
Katie Place, Quinnipac University, Department of Strategic Communication
"This is an accessible text that illustrates relevant instances of ethics in/of/as communication operating in day-to-day life that students will be able to relate to. [O]ne of the things I see the book doing well is applying ethical systems and moral arguments to specific, relevant, and timely issues. This is a definite strength of the text and its material. […] I particularly appreciate that “the ethics of truth” is included as an early and foundational realm of ethical inquiry that helps to lead us into the rest of the work. [...] The overall strength of the text—in my mind—is that it clearly foregrounds ethics in communication practices, which sometimes gets lost in other texts. There are also a wide range of connections formed and viewpoints that are explored. While I think part of this is done via the clear connection to different phenomena/events, which prove as potent sites for conversation. The examples provided also allow a way for students to see the current applicability of ethical systems that they otherwise might not be able to connect to their day-to-day lives. The style is accessible and conversational, I feel like my students would easily understand the content as it is provided."
Alex Davenport, St. Cloud State University, Department of Communication Studies
"This is a very user-friendly, conversational book, and there is definitely a need for that. It is also very practical, and shows how ethics can be applied to real world issues. This book is certainly unlike the other books I’ve used, and much closer to what I was seeking. Even with students who have a short attention span, this book gives indications that it would hold their interest. I do like the focus on current issues. Few books I’ve seen discuss contemporary dilemmas like “cancel culture” or the mask debate, or cultural appropriation, or the dangers of groupthink in ethical decision-making. [...] The writing style is very conversational and generally very readable. It is also clear. I had no problem getting through it, and I doubt my students would either. I like the introductory goals; I like the end of chapter summary; and I like the review of the terminology that was discussed in the chapter. Very useful. And I like the discussion questions, most of which are excellent and useful for in-class or online responses."
Donna L. Halper, Lesley University, Department of Humanities
"[This book is a] thorough, well-constructed survey of issues, concerns, and approaches to communication ethics, grounded in case studies that should be familiar to contemporary students across multiple disciplines. […] The contemporaneous nature of the material is one of the strengths of the text. […] The writing is crisp, clear, and easy to follow."
Michael Huntsberger, Linfield University, Department of Journalism and Media Studies
"Communication Ethics: Promoting Truth, Responsibility and Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age is a textbook designed for today’s post-pandemic undergraduates who have experienced political polarization and are looking for resources for meaningful expression in a world of intense need."
John P. Ferré, University of Louisville, Department of Communication
"[The writing style] is lively and engaging, especially in those chapters in which real-world ethical situations are presented and ethical tools are presented that could help address those situations."
Ken J. Ward, Pittsburgh State University, Department of Communication
Katie Place, Quinnipac University, Department of Strategic Communication
"This is an accessible text that illustrates relevant instances of ethics in/of/as communication operating in day-to-day life that students will be able to relate to. [O]ne of the things I see the book doing well is applying ethical systems and moral arguments to specific, relevant, and timely issues. This is a definite strength of the text and its material. […] I particularly appreciate that “the ethics of truth” is included as an early and foundational realm of ethical inquiry that helps to lead us into the rest of the work. [...] The overall strength of the text—in my mind—is that it clearly foregrounds ethics in communication practices, which sometimes gets lost in other texts. There are also a wide range of connections formed and viewpoints that are explored. While I think part of this is done via the clear connection to different phenomena/events, which prove as potent sites for conversation. The examples provided also allow a way for students to see the current applicability of ethical systems that they otherwise might not be able to connect to their day-to-day lives. The style is accessible and conversational, I feel like my students would easily understand the content as it is provided."
Alex Davenport, St. Cloud State University, Department of Communication Studies
"This is a very user-friendly, conversational book, and there is definitely a need for that. It is also very practical, and shows how ethics can be applied to real world issues. This book is certainly unlike the other books I’ve used, and much closer to what I was seeking. Even with students who have a short attention span, this book gives indications that it would hold their interest. I do like the focus on current issues. Few books I’ve seen discuss contemporary dilemmas like “cancel culture” or the mask debate, or cultural appropriation, or the dangers of groupthink in ethical decision-making. [...] The writing style is very conversational and generally very readable. It is also clear. I had no problem getting through it, and I doubt my students would either. I like the introductory goals; I like the end of chapter summary; and I like the review of the terminology that was discussed in the chapter. Very useful. And I like the discussion questions, most of which are excellent and useful for in-class or online responses."
Donna L. Halper, Lesley University, Department of Humanities
"[This book is a] thorough, well-constructed survey of issues, concerns, and approaches to communication ethics, grounded in case studies that should be familiar to contemporary students across multiple disciplines. […] The contemporaneous nature of the material is one of the strengths of the text. […] The writing is crisp, clear, and easy to follow."
Michael Huntsberger, Linfield University, Department of Journalism and Media Studies
"Communication Ethics: Promoting Truth, Responsibility and Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age is a textbook designed for today’s post-pandemic undergraduates who have experienced political polarization and are looking for resources for meaningful expression in a world of intense need."
John P. Ferré, University of Louisville, Department of Communication
"[The writing style] is lively and engaging, especially in those chapters in which real-world ethical situations are presented and ethical tools are presented that could help address those situations."
Ken J. Ward, Pittsburgh State University, Department of Communication
Listen to Heather Walters fascinating talk with Jay Howard, host of The Humanities District podcast, here.
