October 14, 2009

Objectives

Analysing the compromises made regards to Ethical Principles in the movie

(The Insider)

Empathizing Russell Crowe’s position in the movie (The Insider)

Analyzing the elements of discrimination found in the movie (The Insider)

Introduction

The insider deals with morality under the pressure of money, multinationals and

media logic. The Insider is an excellent movie that depicted a multitude of ethical

dilemmas. Although the focus of the movie surrounds the two main characters,

Jeffrey Wigand (Former Vice-president of research and development at Brown &

Williamson in Louisville, Kentucky) and Lowell Bergman(Journalist with CBS news

channel), there is unethical behaviour existing amongst these individuals and

everyone in their surroundings. The film's depiction of ethics is a perfect example of

what situations one can face in the modern business world. Some of the ethical

issues in the film include falsification, honesty, abusive and intimidating behaviour,

lying, conflict of interest, libel, and an overall lack of social responsibility. The

overlying issue over the entire movie, and the reason for the 60 Minutes broadcast is

the completely unethical behaviour of the tobacco industry.

I witnessed some ethical compromises in the movie. Firstly, when Dr. Wigand is

approached by the tobacco company he worked for, in order to extend his

confidentiality agreement in return of his continuance of severance benefits. On the

company’s part they were asking for ethical compromise from Dr. Wigand as he

knew company’s wrong doing. They expect that in spite of the fact that he was aware

of the wrong doing of the company he should not uncover this information for any

right or wrong cause. Secondly, Tobacco company compromised on business ethics

by not working in the best interest of society as they pledged before congress that

nicotine was not addictive and also asked Dr. Wigand to subdue his objections

regarding the process of “impact boosting” and ignoring health considerations

consciously. They suggested him to speak the language of the company as

discontinuing the product or any change will have detrimental effect on company’s

sale. Thirdly, CBS Corporation made a huge ethical compromise when they made

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an excuse of torturous interference and interfered in CBC news channel and did not

aired the show “60 Minutes” in which Dr. Wigand uncovered the tobacco industry

scam .Wigand says that “the tobacco industry is a nicotine delivery business...” and

tobacco companies add ammonia to the cigarettes so the nicotine can be absorbed

into the brain faster, so customers can get “their fix”. Channel instead aired

alternative show in which they manipulated Dr. Wigand and all public could hear was

electronically altered voice and blanked out image of a man .As the company’s high

officials that is President of CBS news Mr. Eric Kluster and Ms Helen Caperelli was

serving their own self-interest by caring more for the deal with Westinghouse

Corporation as they are the highest beneficiaries. Both of them didn’t want to impact

a deal by airing a show and obtaining a lawsuit against CBS. Fourthly, Don Hewitt

and Mike Wallace (Lowell’s colleague) also consciously supported in ethical

compromise by CBS Channel due to pressure CBS corporation as he don’t want

much troubles in his end years of life. Lastly, In the process of getting Dr. Wigand’s

Story aired Lowell also compromise his ethics on organizational front as he

strategically hooked up with other companies officials and opened up all the

conversation which was supposed to be within organization.

Political games played a major role in harassing Dr. Wigand and suppressing the

voice of sources who wanted to reveal unethical behaviour in tobacco industry. As

every business organization company’s main aim is profit maximization. They had

huge resources at their disposal in order curb any voice that rise against them. In

words of Mark Stern “The unlimited check book.............$600 million a year in outside

legal” .......not even once......not even with hundreds of thousands dying each year

from an illness related to their product......have ever lost a personal-injury lawsuit...”

In later part of the movie company played many mind games with Dr. Wigand and

harassed him by following him, visiting his property, keeping bullet in his mailbox etc.

Dr. Wigand when called help from FBI he noticed that instead of helping him they

were engaging him more and backfiring at him. They even took his personal

computer which had the threat mail and other personal stuff. He felt that FBI instead

of helping him is serving Tobacco Company. As many officials of FBI are in tobacco

company after retirement. Due to high power and resources company was able stop

the airing of “60-minutes” show by accusing the company for torturous interference

and threatening them by lawsuit. “The greater the truth revealed, more damage to

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the company”. Another step taken to smear Dr.Wigand was publishing 500 page

dossiers in Wall Street Journal which contained his exaggerated mistakes in order to

turn audience against him so even if interview is aired nobody should believe him.

However, it turned out to be the lowest form of character assassination.

Empathizing the situation of Russell Crowe I would have definitely raised my

voice against the wrong doing of the company as company is ignoring its corporate

social responsibility and playing with innocent lives. I would not like to live with the

guilt as one day truth is going to be revealed and being part of it questions an

individual’s integrity. As an individual it is my duty to consciously not support

anything which is unethical and morally incorrect. It is really important to uncover

such companies as they grow into enormous powers and exploit society for their own

benefits. It is important for an organization to understand that firm should give back

to the society in the terms what it has earned from its resources. It is difficult to

support and prove truth as man/woman is social creature they have many social For

Instance, Mr Wigand’s wife want him to be away from problems and financial

obligations For Instance Dr. Wigand had to look after his daughters school fee, their

medical expenses,. In addition to this creating trouble with such an industry giant can

set your lives up and down. But we need to overcome our self interests to save

millions who are unaware victims i.e. communitarian ethic. It is difficult to resolve

ethical dilemma such as Dr. Wigand’s two codes i.e. personal and organizational are

in conflict and it is seen that his personal codes overshadowed the organizational

and revealed his strength put his future and family on stake to reveal the truth.

Conclusion

In my opinion, Business ethics are not just limited to laws which an individual has to

obey. As in the movie many characters strategically redirected the unethical task into

ethical. In order to deal with ethical dilemmas individuals should possess a strong

moral reasoning. Corporate Social Responsibility and work ethics has to be the part

of organization culture. In order reconcile inequalities in the societies on political front

it is necessary to curb the powers of business giants through government regulations

and keeping check on ongoing basis. It is important to have just regulatory bodies in

order to reduce exploitation and harassment of many employees like Dr. Wigand

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