Carole Ann LeBlanc is a popular talk show radio personality and opinionated commentator on the morning phone-in show of a Toronto radio show. Ms. LeBlanc is married to Evan Blanchard, a lawyer who is the Minister of Education in the provincial government. The radio station’s board of directors is very concerned that the station’s perceived objectivity will be comprised if Ms. LeBlanc remains on air as a commentator and talk show host while her husband holds such a public position in the province.
For example, the radio station manager believes that Ms. LeBlanc gave minimal attention to the Education ministry’s slow response to the concerns parents raised at a rally at Queen’s Park about the controversial program that places uniformed police officers in dozens of public schools across Toronto (School Resource Officers program) a week ago. Ms. LeBlanc denied that her views are biased and that the incident did not merit much attention as other issues on that particular day.
To ease the board’s concerns, the station manager has transferred Ms. LeBlanc from a talk show host and commentator to the hourly news position, where most script is edited by others. Although technically a lower position, Ms. LeBlanc’s total salary package remains the same. Ms. LeBlanc is now seeking professional advice to determine whether the radio station’s action represents a form of discrimination on the basis of marital status.
Questions
1. Provide your evaluation of this incident using ethics principles and perceived moral intensity of this incident. (3 marks)
2. Discuss the extent to which you believe this incident represents ethical dilemma, and the extent in which the main people or company in this incident acted ethically. (2 marks)