and politics. Are politicians less moral and ethical, or have the processes
of electoral politics and governing deteriorated?

The discipline of rhetoric and communication studies has long been
interested in the subject of ethics. There is universal agreement that
human communication demands concern for ethics. Renewed interest
in the area is demonstrated by the formation in 1985 of the Commission
on Communication Ethics within the Speech Communication Associa-
tion and a special issue of Communication Quarterly on communication
ethics. Such concerns, however, have not reached undergraduate or
graduate education. Vivi McEuen and her colleagues report that of 46
doctoral programs surveyed, not one offered a course devoted entirely
to communication ethics ( 1990, 286). In addition, ethical issues are dis-
cussed 15 percent or less of the total course time, and only 6 percent of
the respondents had taken a graduate course devoted to research ethics
( 1990, 288-89). And less than 25 percent of undergraduates will take a
course substantially devoted to ethical considerations ( 1990, 281).

Although one can find books on communication ethics, political ethics,
media ethics, and so on, there has not been a specific book written on
political communication ethics. Ethical Dimensions of Political Communication
is an attempt to address ethical concerns related to traditional areas of
political communication. In this volume, ethical issues are addressed in
the areas of political culture, campaigns, media, advertising, ghostwrit-
ing, discourse, politicians, and new technologies.

Dealing with ethics is a difficult and perhaps even a dangerous busi-
ness. All the contributors, upon completion of their chapter, expressed
a certain uneasiness at tackling their topic. Clearly the authors struggled
with the implications of their subject matter. This struggle, of course,
is good.

The central theme that emerges from the essays is that we cannot
depend upon the politicians, their handlers, or even the media or the
press to correct real or perceived problems of ethics in American politics.
The task is ours. Only as citizens can we alter or affect the quality of
the polity.

I hope that colleagues, scholars, students, and interested citizens will
find the essays stimulating, disturbing, and yet hopeful. More questions
are raised in the chapters than are answered.But throughout the book
one finds various methods, criteria, and issues for exploring and ad-
dressing ethical concerns. While certainly not a conversion experience,
I know that as a result of reading this volume, my approach to and
teaching of political communication will change. Simply stated, more
time, effort, and content will be devoted to addressing ethical dimen-
sions of political communication and the related concept of civic virture.

Robert E. Denton, Jr.

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