BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALISM IN GHANA

QUANSAH, JAMES; AKO-GYIMA, EMMANUEL; BOATENG, ACHIAA  DORCAS

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dc.contributor.author	QUANSAH, JAMES
dc.contributor.author	AKO-GYIMA, EMMANUEL
dc.contributor.author	BOATENG, ACHIAA DORCAS
dc.date.accessioned	2012-11-20T10:26:48Z
dc.date.accessioned	2022-01-17T02:29:52Z
dc.date.available	2012-11-20T10:26:48Z
dc.date.available	2022-01-17T02:29:52Z
dc.date.issued	2012-11-20
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/1017
dc.description	Countries, the world over, require journalists who are ethically and morally strong to refuse bribes in order to serve the good of their peoples. Vaidya (2008) quotes, “We pay our own way. We accept no gifts from news sources…” “Gifts in journalism are a form of bribe and should be declined”. Terje (2010) agrees with Vaidya when he said “informal incentives and bribes are common in African media practice. Oshunkeye (2011) says brown envelope is a euphemism for corruption in the media. Borrowing the words of Reverend Jim Bakker, a former American minister of the Assemblies of God Church, Oshunkeye said “corruption, like a virulent cancer, blights what it touches. If it perches on a preacher, it makes him teach the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. Indeed, so devastating is the cancer of corruption that when it afflicts a judge, he stands the law on its head and perverts justice. In the same manner, in our noble profession of journalism, when a journalist gets hooked on the brown envelope malaise, professionalism and ethics get crucified” Certainly, news values as objectivity, fairness or accuracy are swept under the carpet. The perception held by many critics is that brown envelope journalism is venomous to best journalistic practices especially in democratic societies as it influences editorial decision making processes. Lengel, (2000) also equates brown envelope to bribery when she said “the payment of news coverage, so called because payments are reportedly delivered in plain, unmarked brown envelopes. Such payments are tantamount to bribes. In totality brown envelope undermines the journalist’s independence as the facts of stories are often distorted to suit the interest of news sources that have money to pay for coverage. Journalists and editors who turn up events such as news conferences, workshops, annual general meetings of banks or seminars are those who are paid to run stories for the news sources”.	en_US
dc.description.abstract	This study examines the influence and effects of Brown Envelope syndrome on journalism practice in Kumasi. Data was collected by triangulation method, that is, quantitative and qualitative research methods which helped tremendously in obtaining rich and accurate data from participants. The major findings of this study showed that a lot of factors have contributed to Brown Envelope also known locally as ‘soli’ by journalists in Kumasi. Such factors include level of education of journalists; meagre salaries received by journalists; and the view that it is appreciation and/or transportation from news sources. The study also found that Brown Envelope or ‘soli’ takes various forms such as money, car, clothing and in some cases scholarships. Based on these findings the society should desist from giving Brown Envelopes to journalists and more importantly Media houses should improve remuneration of journalists as a measure to deal with the challenge. Again Journalism Training institutions should instill moral principles in trainees. Further studies need to be conducted in other parts of the country to further confirm whether Brown Envelope journalism undermines ethical reporting.	en_US
dc.subject	PERCEPTIONS	en_US
dc.subject	MEDIA PRACTITIONERS	en_US
dc.subject	ENVELOPE JOURNALISM	en_US
dc.title	BROWN ENVELOPE JOURNALISM IN GHANA	en_US
dc.title.alternative	PERCEPTIONS OF SOME MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN KUMASI	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US