The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Jon Benjamin has stated that it is hypocritical for journalists to report issues of corruption when they expect payment before reporting an event.
He remarked that although the Ghanaian media is impressively improving, the insistent of most journalists to be given monetary payments popularly known as ‘soli’ is undermining their credibility and integrity.
“…what are we to think when certain journalists expect the famous ‘soli’ to cover our events? …and if those journalists who pride themselves on reporting corruption in others then ask for unofficial payments, isn’t that hypocritical?” he asked.
[contextly_sidebar id=”yN92EOUtk7iDWlPwHoKH0w6ek1o9Smca”]Speaking at the 10th Anniversary celebration of IMANI Ghana on Thursday, Jon Benjamin commended the media saying, “I read, listen to and watch the Ghanaian media everyday and I have an impressive and an improving record in, and commitment to uncovering alleged wrong doing for which I congratulate them.”
He questioned the rationale behind the insistence of most journalists to be paid ‘soli’ by event organizers for doing their job.
“Isn’t covering the news actually their job to start with? And if they are paid sufficiently for doing so, isn’t that an issue between them and their employer rather than our or anyone else’ problem?” he asked.
The UK High Commissioner pointed out that an event or a story is either intrinsically newsworthy or it isn’t therefore, “it doesn’t become news worthy because someone is paid for it. That isn’t journalism; it’s advertizing.”
He however served notice that the Commission will not succumb to the common practice of paying media men to cover their event.
“Now you know officially that you will never receive any ‘soli’ from the British High Commission,” he said.
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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