gladly offer my space host this Article, made by the editorial staff of Lsdi, Freedom of the Press Right to Information: A Report
created for the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) denounced the underestimation of the problem of corruption in journalism -''We were so committed to defending the journalists from becoming too timid in 'analysis and reporting of this aspect of our job, "denounced the search with a series of measures to combat the''dark side''of the profession - A large section is devoted to the situation in Europe and North America is equally - if not more - troubling than the rest of the planet.
In Ghana, a journalist goes to a press conference in the folder and found a brown envelope containing a check worth $ 20. It is not surprising, and at the end of 'meeting in the bag and slipped back to the office to write the piece. In Russia, a 'public relations agency sends out a false statement on a nonexistent company. Thirteen heads and say they are willing to bite the note published in article form, but only on payment of money, with applications ranging from 120 to $ 2,000.
money to write (or not write) : what is Rosental Alves, director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas called " the dark side of the profession "and that happens every day all over the world. The theme is the focus of "Cash for Coverage: Bribery of Journalists Around the World" a Value Bill Ristow, Seattle journalist and expert in education of journalists, has created the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA ), a project headed by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). In
'introduction Ristow notes that Alves is between people who believe that the journalists' organizations have not done enough to fight corruption. "There is an issue which is dealt with in many - notes Alves -. We were so committed to defending journalists from becoming too timid in 'analysis and reporting of this aspect of our job. "
not only journalists and their editors accept bribes to do articles on materials made up, but often both instigate and extort money to publish stories favorable to someone or not to publish articles that might harm someone.
The report stresses that corruption course in journalism is not only widespread in developing countries, and is in fact a large section devoted to the situation in Europe and North America that is equally - if not more - troubling than the rest of planet.
Despite all the campaigns organized to support Media Development and defend press freedom in the world, very little has been done in a concerted manner to reduce the problem of corruption in journalism - and what little has been done comes from a surprising source piuò a journalist professionals Public Relations. Their international associations have sponsored the more detailed research ever made on the issue, and both Erropa 's east and elsewhere in the PR people have tried to work together to clean up the reporters' news industry.
Some, including also experts in the field of freedom of the press with a lot of experience, consider that the defenders have to deal with attacks on journalists who come from so many sides that are uncomfortable to criticize all aspects of the media themselves, as these criticisms are well deserved. Alves, however, is one of those who are convinced that you can defend the freedom of the press and require high standards at the same time. And it 's agreement with the common concern that the problem of journalism' bought 'is so deeply ingrained that they become insoluble virtuosalmente. "I do not think it's impossible," he says. "It 's very difficult, of course, but the improvements that have occurred show that something can be done, just start acting."
Based on a series of interviews with people who have fought against the thorny problem of corruption, 'author of the report outlines the main recommendations for an' action, he says, can make a difference in 'commitment to reducing this stain on the journalistic profession.
international journalists' organizations should:
● ● Organize and support on top of 'journalism bought' by calling for representatives of PR and industry experts.
● ● publish regular reports documenting how and under what circumstances journalists have received or extorted money, so as to give a clear sign of coscienzsa oscurto this side of the profession.
● ● Make a big lavorto documentation to publicize the corruption levels of journalists in various parts of the world. Which, of course, can have a positive impact on 'journalistic ethics.
organizations for media development should:
● ● Increase their commitment to ethics training , recognizing it as the basis for success in the evolution of good journalism media environment, with specific training on how and why avoid taking bribes for their work.
● ● Supporting the creation and rfforzamento system reliability of media, such as ombudsmen and other systems to enhance transparency of journalistic work.
publishers, managers and directors should:
● ● Adopt, publish and defend a strict policy of zero tolerance for any form of 'corruption', from the simple bribe reporters to pay advertising disguised as news.
● ● Review the wage policies, understanding that the wage can have an impact on ethics and can help to remove the excuse of low wages as a cause of corruption.
● ● Start steps to create a system of internal reliability, such as the appointment of an ombudsman el 'introduction of more transparent reporting with their readers.
The PR people and their organizations should:
● ● Do not wait for journalists to be poroporre meetings on the subject. They may suggest themselves, based on research sponsored and work that their members have done around the world.
● ● Encourage its members to practice zero tolerance, avoiding the easy short cuts to pay in the hope of articles more favorable to their clients, and helping them to achieve the same results without harming their business.
NGOs and businesses should: ● ●
say only no! experts and companies who did confess that it is surprisingly easy to capture the tendency to pay these bribes, large and small, if one follows this full program: adopt a strict policy against kickbacks, put it in writing, and make it public sticking to it in all cases.
