Achieving an Ethical Culture
An information session on the proposed Code of Ethics
for the new Cuyahoga County government
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CLEVELAND, OHIO - Jan. 1 - As Cuyahoga County's new County Council and County Executive take office, they do so with a strong mandate to create an ethical culture to replace the scandal-steeped county administration of the past. The means to do this are contained in a document they will soon be asked to approve: a proposed Code of Ethics that will, if passed, apply to every county official, employee and contractor.
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On Monday, Jan. 10 at noon at the City Club, 850 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, the Society of Professional Journalists, Cleveland Chapter, will host a luncheon with speakers who will explain key provisions of the proposed Code of Ethics. The cost is $20 for members of SPJ or the League of Women Voters, $25 for non-members. The price includes a buffet lunch. Find out what's in the Code of Ethics from the people who created it, and why it is crucially important to have an effective enforcement mechanism. Discover why this Code contains some of the country's strongest whistleblower protections to encourage those who observe wrongdoing to report it, knowing they are protected from retaliation. To read the Code ahead of time or print your own copy, visit this website and click on Proposed Code of Ethics Draft Recommendations.
Our main speaker will be Richard Condit, senior counsel to the Government Accountability Project in Washington, D.C., which has lobbied for and helped to design effective whistleblower protections at all levels of government, and defended people whose decision to "blow the whistle" about government wrongdoing got them in trouble. Much of the project's work involves "protecting and advocating for various types of government employees across the country," according to the organization's website (link above).
The program will also feature members of the Code of Ethics Workgroup, appointed by the Transition Advisory Group for Cuyahoga County. This group worked through the spring and summer of 2010 to collect best practices from counties around the country and pull together a Code of Ethics that can help Cuyahoga County turn over a new leaf.
Please click here to register online by Thursday, Jan. 6, for this event. If you cannot register online, please contact SPJ Cleveland Secretary-Treasurer Tom Moore at tmoore56@msn.com or 440-454-3282. For more information about the program, please contact SPJ Cleveland Vice-President Carrie Buchanan at spjcleveland@me.com or 216-338-3286.
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The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, and based in Indianapolis, the SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. The SPJ's own Code of Ethics is used by journalists across the country to guide their conduct. For more about this and SPJ's other priorities visit www.spj.org and the local chapter's website at http://www.spjchapters.org/cleveland/
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