About This Answer
A layperson who works in government communications asks about keeping the precept on right speech. Much of the job means promoting what is good, not focusing on what is not so good, and appearing to be in control even when things may not be in control.
Ajahn Dtun explains that keeping the fourth precept calls for skilful means: knowing how to speak so that it does no harm to the listener. Sometimes this means softening things a little rather than hitting people with the hard facts. Speaking like that is not completely wrong, because it is not a complete untruth and it does not harm them.
The questioner adds that part of the job involves reading information that would reflect badly on the government if the public knew it. The questioner is not fully comfortable with this, but does not pass it to the media or to journalists. Ajahn Dtun replies that this is probably of no great harm on the whole, because one is thinking of the greater benefit of society.