Media shouldn’t accept cash
Feb 21, 2004
TOP RADIO Ltd has tied up a sponsorship deal with the local soccer governing body for the national football league.<br><br>A three-year deal signed the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, will see shs309m going into club kit, together with cash awards for the best performing teams, individ
TOP RADIO Ltd has tied up a sponsorship deal with the local soccer governing body for the national football league.
A three-year deal signed the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, will see shs309m going into club kit, together with cash awards for the best performing teams, individual players, referees and the media.
The deal is, on the whole, a good one, given that the new season had commenced without any sponsor. But the last category of recipients should not be considered. The new deal lines up sh500,000 for the best writer, and the best TV and radio presenters.
The league’s previous sponsors also had similar cash awards.
It is ethically unacceptable for journalists to accept money from outside of their organisations.
Right now in Uganda, it is common for journalists, at both the individual and corporate levels, to accept cash and sponsorships. It is common for people seeking coverage to offer brown envelopes.
The sports journalism fraternity has, for over 15 years now, been accepting sponsorship of their activities from a variety of financiers. Is this correct?
In fact in the US, the media has strict regulations barring journalists from accepting even gifts like pens that have corporate logos on them. Why is this?
It is because it is essential for journalists, as disinterested observers of society, to remain impartial at all times. Accepting money from without may well compromise objectivity, blunting the critical edges that are vital for vibrant journalism.
WBS Television is running adverts warning against quack journalists who demand money for coverage.
The New Vision will soon issue afresh, internal guidelines to its journalists on the ethical implications of accepting cash for news coverage or any other professional activity. All other media houses should do the same.
Ends
A three-year deal signed the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, will see shs309m going into club kit, together with cash awards for the best performing teams, individual players, referees and the media.
The deal is, on the whole, a good one, given that the new season had commenced without any sponsor. But the last category of recipients should not be considered. The new deal lines up sh500,000 for the best writer, and the best TV and radio presenters.
The league’s previous sponsors also had similar cash awards.
It is ethically unacceptable for journalists to accept money from outside of their organisations.
Right now in Uganda, it is common for journalists, at both the individual and corporate levels, to accept cash and sponsorships. It is common for people seeking coverage to offer brown envelopes.
The sports journalism fraternity has, for over 15 years now, been accepting sponsorship of their activities from a variety of financiers. Is this correct?
In fact in the US, the media has strict regulations barring journalists from accepting even gifts like pens that have corporate logos on them. Why is this?
It is because it is essential for journalists, as disinterested observers of society, to remain impartial at all times. Accepting money from without may well compromise objectivity, blunting the critical edges that are vital for vibrant journalism.
WBS Television is running adverts warning against quack journalists who demand money for coverage.
The New Vision will soon issue afresh, internal guidelines to its journalists on the ethical implications of accepting cash for news coverage or any other professional activity. All other media houses should do the same.
Ends