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| National |
| Avoid bribes, council tells media |
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by
Peter Makossah , 19 August 2003
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08:16:39
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The Media Council of Malawi has warned journalists in the country against receiving bribes in exchange for good coverage during next year’s tripartite elections to ensure credibility and fairness in the execution of duties.
Speaking in Mangochi on Sunday to journalists attending a workshop on Reporting Elections and Media Freedom organized by the National Media Institute of Southern Africa (Namisa), Media Council’s task force chairperson Levi Zeleza Manda said during election period some politicians offer huge sums of money to media practitioners in order to buy favours.
“Journalists should as much as possible refrain from consciously taking bribes in exchange for good coverage. There is nothing for nothing. Journalists should remember that their own credibility in the eyes of the public matters in election reporting. As election time is tension time, any semblance of reporter bias can flair tempers and put the reporter in danger,” said Zeleza Manda.
The Media Council, Zeleza Manda said, believes that election time is the most exciting, critical and challenging for the political journalist but added it is also dangerous because it is potentially violent.
MBC director of news and current affairs Eunice Chipangula said it is worrying that there are some media practitioners in the country who demand payment in form of inducements for coverage.
“It is unacceptable and against the tenets of Journalism ethics for one to receive inducements or otherwise known as chipondamthengo in exchange for coverage. I have warned reporters at MBC against receiving bribes. I have warned reporters that should anyone be found in such acts, he or she will be suspended,” said Chipangula.
Television Malawi director general Benson Tembo said journalists need to be more professional in their approach to work and that towards the elections he will ensure that TVM adheres to professional ethics.
He said there is be no political interference in the execution of duties at TVM for the reporters.
“There is no political interference at TVM. But may be the reporters have the fear of the unknown and self censorship within the public media,” Tembo said.
Nation Publications Ltd’s Editor In- Chief Alfred Ntonga said it is not only wrong for journalists to receive bribes or inducements from politicians and news sources but also a grave shame to the trade, saying there is no excuse for such unbecoming acts.
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