Bianca ButlerInsider movie assignment

Comm 42110/14/14

I believe that Wigand did the right thing by blowing the whistle on Brown and

Williamson. Wigand had to make a difficult decision about whether to testify against this big

tobacco company because he was making six figures. His children attended a prestigious school,

and he had good healthcare coverage for himself and his family. When Wigand did choose to

give his statement about what B&W were doing, he jeopardized his family, salary, medical

benefits, and way of life.

Hackman and Johnson (2009) discuss the ethical issues involved in a person’s decision to

reveal information:

Determining whether or not to tell or conceal the truth is not the only dilemma

surrounding access to data. Leaders also must choose when to release information and to

whom and whether or not to reveal that they possess important knowledge. (p. 337)

Whistle blowers have a choice to tell the truth or to let the truth go unknown. It is

important for whistle blowers to choose wisely who they give important information to.

Additionally, they must also be aware that what they are saying has value because once an

individual blows the whistle, all of that company’s poor choices are discovered.

“Powerful leaders frequently protect their status by attacking those they view as threats

and justify their lofty positions by assuming that powerless people aren’t as qualified or valuable

to the organization as they are” (Hackman & Johnson, p. 339). In the movie “The Insider,”

Wigand was not seen as being as powerful as the top executives of B&W. The executives of

B&W threatened and fired Wigand for no reason, then threatened Wigand and his family

Bianca ButlerInsider movie assignment

Comm 42110/14/14

because they did not want him to leak out any information about what their company had been

doing.

Wigand had moral motivation to come forth with revealing evidence. Moral motivation is

defined as “following through with choices” (Hackman & Johnson, p. 345). This is where

individuals choose to do what they feel is right, but when these individuals choose to do right,

there will be severe consequences. For example, an individual’s “security, health and social

acceptance” will be in jeopardy (p. 345).

In conclusion, I believe that Wigand did the right thing because he knew that he could not

live with that type of secret, knowing that he had information about how B&W used highly

addictive and carcinogenic additives to make consumers even more addicted to cigarettes. If I

were Wigand, I would have done what he did and chosen to blow the whistle on the company.

Bianca ButlerInsider movie assignment

Comm 42110/14/14

References

Hackman, M. Z. & Johnson, C. E. (2009). Leadership: A communication perspective (5th

ed.). Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press. Inc.