Tuesday, December 2, 2014
A comment by the British High Commissioner, Jon
Benjamin that it was unethical for journalists to collect or given Solidarity
aka Soli before reporting events has resurrected debate over the age-long thorny
issue in the media.
'Soli' is the practice where journalists, who cover
programmes and events, collect or are given money by event organizers as
transportation and it continuously receives passionate debate over whether or
not the practice is unethical.
The commissioner, speaking at the 10th Anniversary
celebration of IMANI Ghana last week, questioned the integrity of journalists
who insist on receiving payment in the form ‘Soli’ before covering or
publishing stories and said “if those journalists who pride themselves on
reporting corruption in others, then ask for unofficial payment for themselves,
isn’t that a touch hypocritical?”
GJA’s
position
Interestingly, the Ghana Journalist Association
(GJA) appeared to have muddied the waters when it came out to say that Ghanaians
should not confuse payment of monies to journalists for transportation by event
organizers as bribes.
“We should not confuse ‘Soli’ with bribe or an
inducement to influence the performance of a journalist’s professional duties.
We must be careful not to equate soli to bribery and corruption,” GJA General
Secretary David Etse Agbenu who doubles as Editor of the Ghanaian Times reacted on Citi
FM.
He however, blamed event organizers for deepening
the practice since according to him; they have been advised that they were
under no obligation to give journalists transportation.
“It seems to be getting worse because event
organizers have eventually perpetuated this act and it’s becoming difficult to
control it,” he said, adding “it fuels this perception that journalists are
being bribed to do their work.”
OccupyGhana
Before
the High Commissioner’s comment, a leading member of the fast-growing pressure
group OccupyGhana, George Andah was quoted as complaining that because the
group was not paying ‘Soli’, journalists were boycotting their events.
The
group said the practice
of handing out cash that is carried out when journalists cover events flies in
the face of ethical journalistic practice, as it can be construed to suggest an
inducement for the favorable reporting of an event.
It also potentially raises questions
about the accuracy, fairness and balance of the stories that are eventually
written.
It said “fully cognizant that the
practice of paying ‘soli’ provides a fertile ground for corruption to thrive,
this decision was taken to demonstrate OccupyGhana’s anti-corruption stance and
also to establish for the record that the movement is not about talk lone but
also about deeds.
Although we believe such action has
the potential to “hurt” coverage of OccupyGhana events, "we believe it's
the right decision."
"OccupyGhana stands
in solidarity with the many journalists who do not
insist on nor request cash handouts before they do their jobs. In fact we take
this opportunity to acknowledge their principled stance and
hope that their compatriots will come to accept the wisdom of their position.
President’s
Interview
In the ensuing debate, anti-corruption activist and Financial
Analyst Sydney Casley-Hayford appeared to have riled Paul Adom Otchere when he
sarcastically asked the ‘Good Evening Ghana’ host on Metro TV how much he (Adom-Otchere) was paid to have President John
Mahama on his show last week.
Mr. Casely-Hayford said on Citi FM at the weekend that “he (President) was on the Paul Adom-Otchere
show and I don’t know how much ‘soli’ exchanged hands before the show
happened.”
An incensed Adom-Otchere called into the show to
express his displeasure at the comments made about him and Mr. Casely-Hayford instantly
offered his apologies for his comments.
Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Ghana who had
remarked on the same show that the President’s interview was hurriedly done “at
such speed that it was out of normal,” even issued official statement further rendering
unconditional apology to Adom-Otchere.
He said it was “unfortunate that my friend Sydney
Casely-Hayford’s ‘comic-intended question about the ‘soli’ in the context of an
interview Paul had with President Mahama has generated such uproar and
indignation particularly from Paul.”
“I am hopeful that Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford has
taken notice and Paul will leave the matter to die a natural death. I am sorry
that this happened,” he added.
Genuine
concerns
The concern over ‘Soli’, many argue must be
juxtaposed to the fact that some organizations make budgets for media related
activities. They invite journalists specifically to promote their agenda.
Others media rights activists are also of the view
that journalists are under-paid while others are not on salaries at all and
would therefore be hypocritical to expect such practitioners not to be tempted
with ‘Soli’.
An advocate of improved conditions of service for
journalists remarked cynically that “most of these guys are given ID cards to
go out and survive on the job.”
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