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Viewing report
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Freebies and Brown Envelopes. Edition No. 1
VDM Publishing House, Sep 2009, Pages: 68
African journalism is facing challenges in becoming voice of the voiceless. Senior African journalism professionals note that the cancer of African journalism is “Brown Envelopes” or other forms of ill-practices like freebies, junkets, checkbook journalism, etc. Incentive-driven journalism is actually budding in Ethiopia; even having diverse names for the bribes the journalists take – buche, lubricant. Even some officials encourage the situation and journalists fight with each other to be assigned to places with 'buche'. Private medical colleges and NGOs are considered melting pot of bribery. Unless they pay, their news and programs are likely to be killed. The reason behind accepting bribes goes beyond simple media corruption – low salary, rare or no trainings in journalism, pressures from sources, etc. Those journalists who do not accept “buche” are alienated and may be made outcast from the group. Openly sharing information about bribery among journalists is not considered unethical. How far such practice does take us? Time will answer!!
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