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Ethics under threat in sub-Saharan Africa, says IPI director

Ethics under threat in sub-Saharan Africa, says IPI director
By Joseph Mwenda in Hamburg, Germany
Tue 11 Sep. 2012, 10:30 CAT

MEDIA ethics are under immense threat in sub-Saharan Africa because of poor salaries among journalists, says International Press Institute (IPI) director Alison McKenzie.

Lecturing International Academy of Journalism (Intajour) students in Hamburg yesterday, McKenzie said it was sad that journalists in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Zambia inclusive, are unable to pay their bills because of poor working conditions.

"Low pay is the biggest threat to upholding media ethics in sub-Saharan Africa. This is a huge problem around the world but it is worse in Sub-Sahara Africa and Asia," she said. "A small pay makes the journalist self censored because they take money and gifts from sources."

McKenzie said compromised media practitioners cannot speak with confidence against violation of press freedom.

"Political interference and violence against journalists is bad for a free press but small pay is worse because then journalists cannot report objectively. It's easier to speak from the palace, from the top, and tell someone to get a job and improve what they are doing because you don't know what they go through in their daily life," McKenzie said.

Asked how media institutions could pay sufficient salaries to journalists who
are either under-qualified or incompetent, McKenzie said it is the responsibility of the news organization to train journalists if they see the potential.

"When you invest in training, the quality of work attracts more advertising. As IPI we are trying to organise a retreat for publishers and media owners on the importance of these things," said McKenzie.

Labels: ETHICS, IPI, JOURNALISM

posted by MrK @ 4:39 PM