Business Ethics 101
May 28, 2003
While covering the Iraq war, a Japanese newspaper war correspondent picked up an object which he believed was ammunition that was no longer live. Unfortunately, it was still live and it exploded in an airport in Jordan, killing a Jordanian and injuring several others. While this incident has been judged accidental, the reporter is still being held in trial. The reporter’s employer, Mainichi Daily News, has come out publicly about this accident involving its employee. The president even made a visit to Jordan to express his regrets to the victim’s family and to the Jordanian King.
In my humble opinion, I think here is good business ethics wrapped up in a golden frame. The president of the newspaper made no attempts to distance the company and the poor reporter who now has to live with the taking of a man’s life. He even accepted responsibility and has punished many top executives when this accident was pretty much caused by that one reporter. He apparently has made no attempt to hide any sort of information. He went out of his way to accept the problem and has actively tried to find a solution. Many people would’ve made a scapegoat out of the reporter and pretend it never happened. If only more executives act more like this president. This story will go into my books.
Here’s the press release if you’re interested.
