Ethics in Crisis Management.

Mar 12, 2009

Mar 5, 2009

Personal Commentary

Jeremy
- Personally I feel that the importance of the privacy of others is lost among Singaporeans today and the effects of this invasion is often thought too little of
- However I believe that because this concept is rather new but given time Singaporeans will learn to understand the importance of this concept

Augustine
- This project has given me a deeper insight into the ethical issues concerning blogs. Blogs are an effective way to disseminate information. However, one should consider the accuracy of the information by questioning the truth. Who decides if the information is true? Where does the truth lie?

-By examining ethical issues such as invasion of privacy and 'real' identity, I would not just accept the information passively, but consider the validity and accuracy before deciding if it is credible.

-One should consider the ethical issues before blogging, as the readers have a right to be exposed to accurate information. More importantly, bloggers should respect the readers' feelings,expectations and consider the implications of their blog entries on readers when possible.

Marie
- This project strongly supports my belief that for factual information, one should always go directly to source of the story to get information (much like journalism). Biased views from blogs are merely speculation and readers have little means to verify the sources used.

- However, though blogs seemed to disrupt how the crisis should have been handled and is seemingly unethical, people are entitled to their opinion and bloggers can use blogs as an outlet for the expression for their grief.

- Despite doubting the reliability of the source, I think that in this digital age, this is merely another set of information readily available over the net and that readers should be discerning of the information and aware of the pros and cons of various medias.

- It is thus down to your ethics as a receiver of information. Do you accept it in blind faith? Do you question your material and attempt to cross-reference the information? Are you a responsible user of the media?

Julyn
- Personally feels that this project enable better understanding the important and essential aspect of crisis intervention. Being able to consider all affected parties with respect to the circle of vulnerability promote better crisis intervention as it allows a wholesome consideration to render help as well as support for people who are directly and indirectly affected by the incident.

- Crisis happens and is often unexpected, thus, having a ready and prepared intervention system allow quick and effective approach at times of emergency. Modern and new ways of intervention are necessary for effective intervention and this should include new means of gathering of information such as from the internet.

Content

1) Strategy adopted by NTU in dealing with this tragedy.

- Multiple mass dissemination of information from the President of NTU.

- First email was sent on the day of the tragedy. It was addressed to all faculty members, NTU's staffs and students. The email inform general description of the incident. The email also provide the contacts of Counselling Centre Crisis hotline and Corporate Communication office to allow media queries.

- Second email informed the condition of Prof. Chan and the situation in David's family. President shared what he and the some of the faculty from the university were doing. They expressed condolescences to parents of David Widjaja. The email focused on how united the university was in joining hands to support and help out in the tragedy.

- Third email informed that David widjaja's ash was tranported back home with his family. Prof. Chan was said to be recovering well and has already discharged from hospital. The email also mentioned that Prof. Chan expressed gratitute for the outpouring support from members of the NTU community. President of NTU also said that he is fortunate to have the crisis management team who had responded swiftly upon the incident. Lastly, he mentioned that NTU has been working on forming a pastoral care structure and processes with caring professionals, faculty, stuff and students.

- The seemingly less information provided by the school may be interpreted as a move to cover-up the real reason behind the tragedy. The school, however, has the responsibility to embrace confidentiality of all records and information as respect for all the parties directly involved.

2) How new media, in particular blogs presented new problems in effective crisis management.

- Ethics
- Credibility of sources

Ethics
Rebecca Blood’s code of ethics (http://www.rebeccablood.net/handbook/excerpts/weblog_ethics.html)

1. Publish as fact only that which you believe to be true.

2. If material exists online, link to it when you reference it.

3. Publicly correct any misinformation.

4. Write each entry as if it could not be changed; add to, but do not rewrite or delete, any entry.

5. Disclose any conflict of interest.

6. Note questionable and biased sources.

3) Blogs as a new means of attaining information blur the line separating personal and public.

- Invasion of privacy
- Identity of bloggers(What's true and who has the right to comment)

Invasion of privacy

- Definition

Warren and Brandeis (1890) defined it as “the right to be let alone”. However the problem with the above definition is that there is no evidence of the close relationship between privacy and personal information in the information age. The definition provided by (Murata & Orito, 2008) is more poignant as they wrote that it is the “regulation of the collection, storage, processing, use and circulation of personal information” (p. 234). This definition is more useful because the information age brings about different dimensions to the definition of adding, collection and storage of the insane amount of personal information available today.

- Significance in the Blogosphere

(Murata & Orito, 2008) “ What is important is that individuals acknowledge how important it is to control oneʼs own personal information and to place stronger emphasis on protecting personal information” (p. 235). What is happening now in Singapore as described correctly by (Murata & Orito, 2008) is that “we attach less importance to this right and to the protection of personal information” (p. 238).

- With respect to the case in hand

He was a loner.. He had his ASEAN scholarship terminated... He plays online games... His family did not have problems financing his studies..

http://klayhead.blogspot.com/

Identity of Bloggers

The online identity

- Reduced auditory and visual cues.

- Internet communication is anonymous.

- Able to comment without fear of stigma or retaliation/backlash that have real world repercussions.

Blogs often begin by giving factual details about the incident which have been obtained either from the newspaper or from online sources. The story is then synthesized so that readers of the blog can get a grasp of the situation within a paragraph.

“Nanyang Technological University student, David Hartanto Widjaja went crazy and stabbed his professor before slitting his own wrists and jumping down to his death”

- http://izreloaded.blogspot.com/-

Bloggers also include information from personal sources and opinion. Such speculation from bloggers complicates the crisis intervention. Often, perception over-shadows the reality. Bloggers include their own thoughts on how, why an issue happened and try to counter what has been reported by reporting their own version or creating doubts in the official report. This is often in conflict with the version publicized by the media or may cover angles not reporteded by the media.

“I'm guessing he most likely couldn't take the stress from FYP or the prof was pushing him too hard or a combination of factors. But perhaps, something like that was bound to happen anyway; sooner or later considering the crazy workload we have here what with projects and projects and assignments”

- http://can-this.blogspot.com/-

Who has the Right to Comment

Blogs invite anonymous commentary which in turn, might affect the judgement and viewpoints of readers. Comments often contain speculation and personal opinions about the incident.

ANG said...
“The prof survived. That means we will all know soon what really happen. My guess is he wanted help from his prof but prof said he could do it by himself. Feeling pressured and stress, he got into an argument with the prof. Then stabbed him. Shocked, he then ran out with blood in his hand. Then thought of killing himself after committing the act”.

Anonymous said...
“singapore too stressful to live in lah... study also stress, work also stress... no work also stress.... many pple commit suicide now”.

Anonymous said...
“it's so obvious that NTU trying to spice things up to cover something!! from the statement that said david slit his wrist is already wrong. nothing found in his arms. instead a long cut found on his neck.he's a good guy and he doesnt have any financial problem. his family is not poor, n not a big problem for them to pay the tuition even tho scholarship has been terminatedwhen the family came to see david's body, they never allow the parents to see the whole body, only the upper neck n head. don't know what they r trying to cover up. and the knife found was without the handle. isnt that ridiculous???all the opinion on the newspaper hasn't been proved. and why the body cremated so fast??”

Personally affected by the issue, they can provide the human dimension to the story by divulging personal information regarding the person and the situation.

He was such an awesome friend really smart and funny. I known him a long time now and we have spent so much time together. He really did have such a nice personality. I wish I could have spent my time to talk to him better and get in a core of his problem because now he is gone and it will not be the same without him. (By Mystica)

Once, we were talking about universities and how hard is to get good grades and he told me he didnt know why he had chosen this course, he didnt know if he would finish this, so i said, wait a minute, this is your last year, you need to do that and u will do it well, don't worry. He just told me " I hope so". I didn't realize it was more than that. I'm feeling so unuseful cause I think maybe i could say something else, or try to go deeply into his problems.( By Nanda)

http://klayhead.blogspot.com/

Hence, people in positions of power have a duty to make a statement regarding the issue and give an account of the situation, such as the President of NTU.

Pros & Cons of Blogging on the issue

Positive :
1) Use of anonymity to make personal statements that would sabotage a relationship if stated openly.

2) Used to pass information and evade any threat of direct retribution. E.g. `whistleblowers'.

3) Anonymity can be extremely important and potentially lifesaving diagnoses and discussions carried out on medical or theurapeutic newsgroups.

4)Open discussion of views on a topic.
Cases: Lindsay Van Gelder

Negative :
1)Serve to impede the crediblity of information that is reported.

2)Bypasses traditional sources of information such as news reports and may cause emotional and psychological harm to those within the primary circle of vulnerability.

3)Creates doubts of issues reported.
Cases: Megan Meier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megan_meier)

Context

This diagram shows the 'Circle of Vulnerability' regarding this incident.

We will focus on Singapore's context, in particular, the NTU context.
Recognise NTU as an organization in attempt to reconcile and intervene in the crisis.
We also consider the role played by the President of NTU, the involved schools, people in relation to David Widjaja, people in relation to Prof. Chan etc.
This concept assume that everybody is vulnerable to psychological stress in an emergency or crisis.

Circle of Vulnerability indicates that degress of vulnerability which depends on their proximity to the event and not how people are actually affected by it.

PRIMARY Circle of Vulnerability

The people included in the primary circle of vulnerability are most heavily impacted by the incident. This includes the direct family members of those involved such as the families of David as well as Professor Chan. These people have close direct relationships and blood ties with the victims and are emotional and/or psychologically affected by the incident. This also includes eye witness to the event as they have first hand contact with the incident and may be tramautised or disturbed by the incident.

SECONDARY Circle of Vulnerability

The people included in the secondary circle of vulnerability are not as heavily impacted by the incident. This includes those with any relationship ties to David and Professor Chan such as their friends, relatives as well as members in the same faculty. These people know the victims personally and are affected by the incident (e.g. loss of a friend, disruption of class). This also includes police and paramedics as they have first hand contact with the scene of the incident and interact with the victims soon after the incident.

TERTIARY Circle of Vulnerability

The people included in the tertiary circle of vulnerability are least impacted by the incident. This includes people with remote ties to the victimes or are able to relate to the victims even though they do not know them personally. This includes other students/professors, parents of students and the general public. This also includes people who may have "participated in the event" in the capacity of their job but may not actually having a personal interest in the incident such as the hospital staff who treated the victims as well reporters who reported on the event.

Everyone is vulnerable to psychological stress in an emergency or disaster. Everyone who either directly or indirectly affected by the crisis is more likely to experience crisis or extreme stress. However, we should not forsaken individuals who are indirectly impacted by the event through extensive media coverage especially in the globalized world now.

Purpose

To examine the issue of ethics in social networking sites, particularly, blogs.
Focus on two important aspect of ethics, privacy invasion and issue on "real" identity of bloggers.
Draw upon the case of David Widjaja and reflect on the issues of ethical bloggings and its consequences on crisis intervention from the University and Government.