Brown envelope journalism

This article is about a practice common in Africa. For other uses, see Envelope journalism.

In media ethics, brown envelope journalism (BEJ) is a term used to describe the practice of journalists accepting monetary or other incentives in exchange for favorable news coverage or the suppression of negative information. The phenomenon undermines journalistic integrity and the independence of the media, leading to biased reporting influenced by external interests. The practice is not limited to one country, rather it is observed in other African countries, namely Tanzania, Nigeria, and in Ghana where it is called soli and in Cameroon where it is known as gombo. The practice is also reported in Gulf countries such as Kuwait.

BEJ is often justified by journalists due to low salaries and inadequate compensation for work-related expenses.

Etymology

The name is derived from cash inducements hidden in brown envelopes and given to journalists during press briefings.

By country

Kuwait

Brown envelope journalism is prelevant in Kuwait as well. In 2021, a study examined the practice of brown envelope journalism in Kuwait. The study revealed that the situation in Kuwait has largely remained the unchanged. The conceptualization of ethics among journalists in Kuwait has shown little evolution over the years. The journalists continue to face the same ethical dilemmas, indicating a persistent challenge in adhering to journalistic integrity. Additionally, the employment of part-time journalists, who may be more susceptible to engaging in brown envelope journalism due to financial pressures, is still a prevalent practice in the country. This highlights a systemic issue within the media industry in Kuwait, where part-time journalists are potentially more exposed to ethical compromises.

The study also found a lack of proactive measures by editors and media supervisors in Kuwait to combat this form of journalism. There is an absence of strict policies or disciplinary actions against reporters who engage in such practices. This lack of enforcement contributes to the ongoing presence of brown envelope journalism in the Kuwaiti media landscape. Moreover, many journalists in Kuwait view the acceptance or rejection of these unethical incentives as a personal choice, rather than a professional ethical breach. This perspective underscores a broader issue of individual responsibility versus institutional accountability in the field of journalism in Kuwait.

Nigeria

Brown envelope journalism is regarded as a common practice in Nigeria. Prior to the 1990s, most news publications were government owned. The Babangida regime (1985–1993) saw a rise of media activism, opposing militarised democratization and struggle for independence. The early standing of journalism as noble resulted in a lack of law or regulations. One of the effects is that the Nigerian media has become a thriving arena for sponsored stories. Journalists in Nigeria perceive brown envelope journalism practice to be unethical, and media regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) apply a code of ethics to discourage the practice.

While the true extent of BEJ practices worldwide is unknown, research literature has been concentrated in the South East and Asia and Eastern Europe regions, as well as Latin American and African regions in recent years. In 2010, the African Communication Research journal has received around 40 submissions of research articles centered around 10 Sub-Saharan African countries.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, a significant proportion of journalists work on a freelance basis, earning less than the national average salary and making them more vulnerable to such unethical practices. Payments are sometimes disguised as allowances for attending events with the expectation of positive coverage. The studies conducted in Tanzania, indicate a considerable incidence of journalists admitting to accepting such bribes.

Forms

• Public relations (PR) – The practice of brown envelope journalism is sometimes described in Nigeria as PR or public relations by those who indulge in it. PR involves paying in advance for a newsworthy event to be reported by journalists.
• Token of appreciation or for transport—this is monetary inducement given to journalists to gain undue favor under the guise that the bribe giver appreciates the time and mileage the journalist spent on a story.
• Kola refers to offering bribes to unethical journalists.

Causes

A cause of brown envelope journalism may be the poor remuneration of journalists. Many journalists' salaries are not paid on time and bosses sometimes justify this non-payment by telling their employees to use the media platform to earn money. There are instances whereby magazines owe employees six months' salary, even when paid, many journalists still earn less than $3 per day and graduate journalist earn as little as $200 monthly. It may be difficult for journalist who are hungry or have families to feed to live on the salaries alone and neglect taking brown envelopes. In 2015, the Nigeria Union of Journalists demonstrated against This Day newspapers after salary payments were delayed for nine months. A 2013 survey study of journalists' perception on the causes of Brown Envelope Syndrome (BES) practices in Nigeria indicate that 6% of journalists interview associate poor remuneration as a cause of (BES), while 2% indicated delay in salary payments.

Another cause may be the influence of advertisers on the financial performance of media houses. Due to the revenues that accrue to media firms through advertisements, the media houses are well aware of the interest of advertisers and consider those interests in the packaging of sensitive news. Dele Olojede's Next newspapers stopped printing as a result of drop in revenues from advertisers. Next's crusading stance on political issues and probe into the oil sector hurt its ad sales and paid salutatory praises on politicians. In some broadcast television stations, sponsored news programs can reach close to 50% of news stories.

Criticism

Despite its widespread nature, BEJ is universally condemned by media ethicists and watchdog organizations. Critics argue that BEJ undermines journalistic integrity and the independence of the media. Despite these criticisms, the practice persists, influenced by broader economic and societal factors.

See also

• Envelope journalism
• Fake news
• Journalism ethics and standards
• Journalistic scandal
• Mass media
• Media bias
• Press conference