The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has cautioned Ghanaians not to consider payment of monies to\u00a0 journalists for transportation, popularly called “Soli,” by event organizers as\u00a0 bribes.<\/p>\n
The General Secretary of the Association and Editor of the Ghanaian Times, Dave Agbenu on the Citi Breakfast Show<\/strong> said: \u201cWe should not confuse ‘soli’ with bribe or an inducement to influence the performance of a journalist\u2019s professional duties. We must be careful not to equate soli to bribery and corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”KGt625NwiQHUUivtUML9hSmZ6W4lGVrq”]His reaction comes on the back of comments made by the British High Commissioner, Jon Benjamin, that media practitioners in Ghana open themselves up for possible influence and inducement when they demand or accept \u2018soli\u2019 after news events.<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Mr. Benjamin\u2019s remarks have revived the age-long debate over the implications of journalists taking \u2018soli.\u2019<\/p>\n But Mr. Agbenu laid the blame at the doorstep of event organizers, whom according to him, have been advised that they are under no obligation to give journalists transportation when they cover assignments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt seems to be getting worse because event organizers have eventually perpetuated this act and it\u2019s becoming difficult to control it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This, he said, \u201cfuels this perception that journalists are being bribed to do their work.\u201d<\/p>\n The GJA General Secretary was however quick to add that sometimes, event organizers can be excused because \u201cwherever they will take you might be a bit out of the jurisdiction of the media institution and the media institution might not be able to transport the journalist.\u201d<\/p>\n He also pointed out that in the Association\u2019s code of conduct, it is spelt out that \u201cjournalists should not accept bribe or any form of inducement to influence the performance of his or her professional duties.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat it means is that you should not go out there to ask for money or be given money to come and write your story.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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