‘Soli’ is unjustifiable no matter how you call it – Audrey Gadzekpo A lecturer at the School of Communications Studies of the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo says the practice whereby journalists receive payment from newsmakers cannot be justified under any circumstance. She said it is extremely important for journalists to remain independent and receiving unlawful payments christened soli, compromises that independence. Prof. Gadzekpo said it is ethically wrong for journalists to demand appreciation from their news sources whom they interview or event organisers. The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin in an address delivered in Accra last week to mark the 10th anniversary celebrations of IMANI Ghana, said the situation where certain journalists expect the famous “soli” when covering an events is a form of corruption. “Isn’t covering the news actually their job to start with? And, if they aren’t paid sufficiently for doing so, isn’t that an issue between them and their employer, rather than our or anyone else’s problem,” Mr. Benjamin quizzed. Speaking Monday, December 1, 2014 on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM, Prof. Gadzekpo noted that the relationship that exists between the journalist and his source is strictly business- to gather information for their audience or readers. She said: “One of the professional ethos [of journalism worldwide] is to remain independent of who you cover…so that journalists are in a stronger position to criticize and even to determine” which event is of news value. “The journalist has no other relationship with the person they are covering and therefore to suggest that the person they are covering…show appreciation is, therefore, bizarre,” Prof. Gadzekpo remarked.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 12:26:09 +0000
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