Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Overview
Journal Communications and its subsidiaries operate in a complex and changing society. The actions of the company's employees, officers and directors clearly affect other members of that society. Therefore, every employee has an obligation to conduct the day-to-day business of the company in conformity with the highest ethical standards and in accordance with the various laws and regulations that govern modern business operations.
Among the most significant are the federal and state laws that uphold the free enterprise system and prohibit unfair competition. These laws prohibit restraint of trade, such as illegal pricing practices; falsely disparaging or harassing competitors; stealing trade secrets; bribery and kickbacks.
Infractions of the law can result in costly legal fees, extensive damages, fines against the company and fines or jail terms for individuals. Most importantly, illegal actions will damage our company's reputation and public goodwill.
The company relies on us to uphold the law scrupulously on its behalf. We should stay abreast of pertinent laws and direct any questions about the law to our company's attorney.

Ethical standards
Journal Communications' ethical standards embrace not only the letter of the law, but also the spirit of the law. To that end, we must apply plain old-fashioned honesty and decency to every aspect of our job. We must not sacrifice ethics for expedience. Broadly put, we should treat others fairly and with respect.

If faced with an ethical question, we should ask:
Is this action legal?
Does it comply with company policies and/or good business conduct?
Is it something I would not want my supervisors, fellow employees, subordinates or family to know about?
Is it something I would not want the general public to know about?
This code of ethics applies to all employees of journal Communications. It is designed to work with any department or company ethics codes. However, if your department or subsidiary has its own written code that contains more stringent guidelines, we must abide by those stricter provisions.

Reporting and enforcement
We must not condone illegal or unethical behavior by an associate by failing to report it, regardless of the employee's level of authority. We must report suspected violations to the person to whom we report, or higher if necessary, up to and including the chairman or the president of Journal Communications.
The company will protect us if we bring unethical activity to its attention.
The head of each subsidiary of Journal Communications is responsible for the enforcement of this ethics policy in his or her company. In addition, company presidents must report significant violations of the ethics policy to the chairman or the president of Journal Communications.
Please note that a serious violation of the code of ethics may bring immediate dismissal for cause. Repeated minor violations after a warning may also be grounds for dismissal for cause.
You may direct any questions regarding this policy to the chairman or the president of journal Communications.

Company's respect for employees
Journal Communications strives to create an environment in which we can pursue our careers unhindered by discrimination or harassment of any kind.
The company has and adheres to policies designed to ensure that it treats all employees equally. These policies ensure equal consideration to all employees and applicants for employment in connection with hiring, promotion, transfer, treatment during employment, compensation, participation in social and recreational functions and use of employee facilities.

Employees' respect for each other
All employees must make a conscious effort to treat one another fairly and without discrimination or harassment of any kind. We should treat each other as we wish to be treated, respect one another's time and privacy and avoid gossip and rumors.

Loyalty to journal Communications
As employees, we should feel loyalty to our company. We have an obligation to help preserve the well being of our company in order to preserve our jobs and the jobs of our associates. Many of us also are partners in the ownership of Journal Communications. That gives us an added incentive to protect our company's reputation.
We should weigh our words and actions carefully in talking about our company.
Loyalty requires that when we act as a spokesperson for our company, we fairly represent its views and interests. A spokesperson must accept this responsibility and the accountability that accompanies it.
If it is appropriate to offer a personal opinion, we should clarify that we are speaking for ourselves, not the company. If we are not company spokespersons, we should not represent ourselves as such.

Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest are any outside activities that interfere with our loyalty to our company or our ability to do our jobs or that undermine the interests of our company.
All journal Communications employees, including officers of the company and its subsidiaries, are prohibited from:

• Providing services to a company that provides services similar to those of any subsidiary of Journal. Communications, unless expressly authorized by the president of our subsidiary.

• Being an officer, director or partner in an entity that is a journal. Communications customer, supplier or competitor.

• Holding significant financial or other interest in a company that provides services similar to journal. Communications or is a customer or supplier. A significant interest is not necessarily a large dollar amount: It could be any interest that might conflict with our responsibility to Journal Communications.

Involvement in any business venture that requires using company time or facilities.
If a member of our immediate family is involved in any activities or investments that pose a potential conflict of interest, we must disclose that to the person to whom we report. We may work for another employer while we work for journal Communications as long as the outside job does not interfere with our ability to give full time and energy to our journal Communications job and does not constitute a conflict of interest as defined on the previous page. We must clear outside employment with the person to whom we report.

Competing
Journal Communications believes in competing vigorously and fairly. Over all other considerations, we must be fair.
We must not make false statements about competitors or their products and services. We must not make false claims about our own products and services.
We must not enter into any agreements with competitors to fix prices, arrange boycotts or engage in any other restraint of trade. At any meeting where competitors are present, we must not discuss any of the above. We must leave the meeting if others wish to discuss any of them. If we have any questions about competitive issues, we should consult our company attorney.

Relationships with customers
A great deal of the success of Journal Communications is attributable to its record of honorable dealings with customers. We must continue to strive to provide customers with quality products and services that meet their needs at fair value.
Everything we offer for sale must be truthfully represented. We may promise only what the company can deliver, and we must live up to the promises we make.
Our dealings must be consistent with all laws and regulations and with good business practices. Invoices must accurately reflect the products sold or services rendered and the true sales price and terms of sale.
We should strive for a clear understanding of our customers' needs and provide effective solutions to their problems. Satisfying customer needs requires the active participation of everyone in the company. We should all treat customers with courtesy, respect and fairness at all times.

Relationships with suppliers
When journal Communications is the customer, we should treat suppliers fairly and considerately and avoid falling prey to influence or inducements. We should expect the same treatment that we extend to our customers.
The only consideration that should influence a buying decision is the good of the company. We should strive for optimum quality, reliable performance, committed service and fair pricing in the products and services we buy for our company.

Relationships with news sources
Many of us are involved in collecting and disseminating the news. Those of us who do have special responsibilities to keep the public fully informed of events of public importance. These responsibilities require us to perform with intelligence, accuracy and fairness.
We must respect the dignity and right to privacy of the people we encounter in gathering the news. Where controversy exists we must make reasonable efforts to contact both sides.
The duty of journalists is to serve the truth. Journalists' skills must be used with common sense and good judgment.

Favors, gifts and entertainment
Journal Communications' policy of attracting and retaining business by meeting customers' needs, rather than by using bribes, gifts or favors, is an essential part of its ethical tradition.
We may not give or accept gifts, loans or favors of more than nominal value in connection with our job. If we do receive a gift worth more than $50, we must report it to the person to whom we report and return it. We should direct any question about the value of a gift, given or received, to the person to whom we report.
Entertaining customers or accepting the entertainment of suppliers is part of normal business practice as long as it is reasonable and will not pose a conflict to us. When we entertain as part of our job, the purpose and expense must comply with federal and state guidelines. We should direct any questions to the person to whom we report and/or the company's attorney.

Expense and reimbursement
Travel and entertainment expenses incurred on company business will be reimbursed only if they are reasonable and follow Internal Revenue Service guidelines. If members of our family travel with us on business, they must pay their own way. If a business function requires our spouses' involvement, the company will pay for spouses' costs. Prior approval from the president of our subsidiary is necessary.

Confidential information
Because of the nature of the company's businesses, we may have access to news, advertising or other information that is not yet known to the general public.
This is confidential information and using it inappropriately in any way prior to public dissemination is forbidden.
Confidential information also includes trade secrets, such as a special technology; know how; research data; or performance results. Any privileged information that gives Journal Communications a competitive edge should be retained within the company.
It is also our duty to guard confidential information so that it does not fall into the hands of others due to our negligence.

Use of corporate assets
We must not use company time, equipment or money for personal interests or gain. We have a basic responsibility to protect the assets of the company, large and small.
If our position entrusts us with control over corporate purchases or records, we must make transactions solely in the interests of the company. Accuracy in bookkeeping, records, expense accounts and financial reports is an absolute requirement.

Corporate social responsibility
Journal Communications believes that it has a responsibility to contribute to the communities in which it operates. As individuals, we also should contribute to our communities through personal involvement and financial donations, provided that our involvement does not constitute a conflict of interest with our professional responsibilities.
We should clear any important volunteer positions with the person to whom we report, or higher if necessary, before we accept them.

Political involvement
Although Journal Communications wants us to be good citizens in our community, we may not undertake any political involvement that jeopardizes our loyalty to the company impairs our ability to do our job fairly or threatens the company's credibility.
Remember that when we do participate, we must represent only ourselves and not the company. Laws prohibit corporate contributions to political parties or candidates. Corporate assets also may not be used for political purposes.
In dealing with government representatives, we must obey all laws concerning relations with government officials. We must not give or accept favors, gifts or entertainment from government officials. If we have any questions regarding political involvement, we should have the person to whom we report check with the president of our subsidiary.