Should journalists in developing countries accept gifts?

Nary an English-language commenter, even those from developing countries, denied the ethics problems of journalists accepting gifts. Commenting journalists from many different countries agreed that accepting gifts is wrong and can sway journalists’ neutrality and lead them to write stories they wouldn’t have otherwise. However, several comments revealed that in practice, ethics don’t always translate.

In Cameroon, said one commenter, the practice of accepting gifts is so common it has a name: ngombo. “Ngombo is normal,” the commenter said. “In many occasions organizers of events who failed to give Ngombo would not have their story published or broadcast.” He or she said this is the same for state media and independent journalists.

Dr. Khin Myint Oo of Myanmar said gift-giving is rampant there as well. Businessmen and producers give journalists small gifts like notebooks to announce new products or movies, and many journalists happily accept and write stories in return.

A Sri Lankan commenter said there are three categories of journalists there: those who refuse gifts entirely, those who accept gifts but try not to let them influence stories, and those who demand gifts – “mostly money or alcohol - but lately had advanced even to sexual favours/assault.”

One commenter from Nigeria came closer to defending the practice. He said that gift acceptance is common in Nigeria because journalists are often paid very low wages, some not paid at all. “Someone said some thing about the ethics of the proffession (sic) but do you tell that to your wife or hungry kids?” he wrote.

Source: Ijnet