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Other articles in the RAP 21 Newsletter n° 64/2002:
Newsletter n° 64
THE BUSINESS OF NEWSPAPERS PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

A newspaper helps journalists fight temptations

A problem in developing countries world-wide is how to protect underpaid journalists from offers of money for positive stories.

In Morocco, the daily The Economist (circulation: 35,000) recently published a manual to helps journalists avoid corrupting inluences.

For example, a source offers a journalist an "envelope" or even "coffee money" or "some money for traveling costs." As it is not always easy to refuse such offers, the newspaper provides some responses to journalists to help them avoid the temptation of accepting money for stories.

"The offer of money is rare and when it happens, it is often that people think that this is the way that journalists work. We have an educational role to play, to teach our contacts to change their practices," says the manual.

"The object of the work of the journalist is to find and to pass on information. He should keep this information shielded from corruption and protect himself, individually and collectively, against the risks of corruption."

The main problem, according to the newspaper, is that corruption is a taboo subject in newsrooms. The best remedy to corruption should then be communication. There are three basic principles for The Economist: transparency, solidarity and calm. When those three principles are applied, corruption is no longer a private matter but has an impact on everyone.

The manual offers solutions against corruption, and ways for journalists and newsrooms to avoid future attempts of manipulation.

Cases of corruption can take on various forms. A source can offer help to the journalist for a problem he faces. Here, the Economist advices journalists to ask the chief editor to find another reporter to cover the story. The newspaper also believes that the other reporter should be put in the picture about the attempt of corruption, so that he will not fall in the trap himself.

When it is about money, the newspaper recommends that the journalists talk with the chief editor: "The chief editor writes a protest letter, with copies for information to the ministery in charge. The money is sent back by postal order, in the name of the general manager, or of the ministery in charge, or of the president of the holding company, so as to create as much difficulties as possible to reinstate the amount in the accounts of the company or the administration."

The manual provides journalists proper answers when their sources flatter them to obtain positive coverage of their activities. Flattery is an attempt of manipulation.

The newspaper suggests answers such as: "You are too kind to me, but I am only doing my job", or "You know, this profession is not difficult, it is just a question of holding principles of common sense and intellectual honesty."

Finally, avoiding cases of corruption does not only consist in refusing money or presents or even services. Some enterprises sometimes offer collective trips to journalists. Refusing the offer is not always realistic as some newspapers are not rich enough to pay travel expenses to their reporters. "Protection against corruption or even suspicion of corruption is always the same: make it public," says the manual. The first question, of course, for the newsroom is whether this trip is necessary to get relevant information or if it is a disguised gift. If the trip is really necessary, the journalist’s behavior should be exemplary: he should pay his own phone calls or his own meals, for example. Back in the newsroom, the journalist should talk ta his colleagues about his trip, so that he will remain unbiased in his story.

To receive a copy of the manual, contact rap21@wan.asso.fr
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