bribe is problem of journalists not only in developing countries but also in developed nations. Acoording to A Report to the Center for International Media Assistance, '"cash for coverage" is every where in the world.I am amazing whay journalists in developed nations are eager to recive bribe from the citizen!? unlike journalists in the 3rd world countries they have relatively good salary,working atmospere and others ways to fulfil their needs! In my opnion to stop bribe brodly I forwrd two,solutions. 1,for journalists from developed countries there must be stablish strong media regulation system! 2.for journalists from developing countries,education,training on ethical reporting and paying fair salries,creating confertable working atmosphere can decrease the level of journalists briebing Dereje Moges,Ethiopia. deremo03@gmail.com

Journalism is the fourth estate which protects and safeguards the democratic values in the society. Unfortunately in India too, the field of journalism is attracting the unemployed uneducated youth too. These journalists donot know even how to write the report to the newspaper. They act as mere advertisement collection agents . This practice needs to be stopped forthwith. Ofcourse, the medium and small newspapers and magazines are striving hard to survive in the market. Capitalists entered the Indian market and they are offerring the newspaper at a low cost, which is not posible for any organisation to survive except those caitalists. Another great reason I found is that the journalists are paid a meagre salary which is not sufficient for them to eat two times with his family members. This is exactly the reason why the journalist friends are resorting to such things to earn money for their survival. So, the managemets should pay them reasonable salaries to keep them away from such malpractices. We should also keep in mind that there are journalists who are honest and sincere to their duties. These are the lot facing difficulties from all sides. They are the people who are safeguarding the values of journalism in the real sense. Let us wish that good days are head for the print media as well as electronic media. Bye.

In kenya things are worse.It is unfortunate that the media are the first to unearth the same vice when it is committed by others but when it comes to the ,this seems to be normal.You find that after every press conference, the media will give the organizers of the meetings rough time until they part with the money.The media council is all aware of this trend by are doing nothing to curb the menace. There is even a list of shame for those who are know to give money inorder to receive coverage even when they are sying nothing relavant to national development.Suprisingly the media cannot write about this social evil that is threatening the freedom of press. There are also a number of journalsits working for the mainstream media outlets who are notorious for this.Worse still the editors are also at it. It is a shame...

B|ribing journalist is a common practice in Africa, however, common the practice is there are some media organisation that has chosen to pay good remuneration to journalists in their organisation to discourage journalist seeking for bribe from general public Like the scourge of corruption in this society, it is left for individual journalist to resolve to take or not to take bribe to report a news,a media organisation that refuse to pay reporters reasonable salary, inadvertently encourages them to source for means to augment their take home, thereby reducing credibility of such report and the organisation he is representing It is a known fact in Nigeria that some organisations deliberately under pay journalists on their payroll, whatever reasons these practice is done remain known only to the publisher, and in other way round, some news materialsremains articles for bidding for the highest bidder for the taking , threby reducing credibility of such medium and remotely watering down the impact of such information derivable therefrom

Bribes to reporters, could happen any country. This occurs because: 1. Which they work (read. media companies) to give a little salary at the reporters. 2. Which they work (read. media companies) are just chasing profits, regardless of the actual function of the media (the transition function "of the means of social control to shift into a business / for profit." 3. Easily publish a medium, resulting in a lot of media that need to be "accredited" his kredility. 4. The presence of the owner of the company's recommendation for backup power, the politicians, the corrupt, by the way so as not to make news. 5. As a result, eradication of corruption is difficult to be eradicated, the more flourishing corruption and poverty is increasing. Arguably, the media is one of the fertilising "the plant of corruption" 6. The low morale journalist concerned. 7. Number of the Act which can ensnare a journalist with a pretext, defame someone. 8. To fix this, need to be issued an online media, which is free from the editor and can be reached and read by anyone on the planet with news originating from various regions and of course, every reporter who got in trouble from public sources or figures will be assisted by "advocate " from the company, such, Global Voices and Allvoices.com

Arief Joe induc5000@yahoo.com

Some Liberian Journalists are involved in the practice of "Yellow Book Journalism" or the receiving of bribes. This act which diminishes the prestige and nobility of the profession has been blamed on the poor salary Liberian journalists are receiving. A September 2008 survey conducted by the Liberia Media Center with support from ActionAid Liberia entitled; “Mapping the Absent Voices; A Study on Women Access to the Media and the Media’s Role in Promoting Women Voices,” says that of the one hundred and thirty eight (138) women interviewed who are working in the media either as a reporters, announcers, station managers, editors, etc., 41.3 percent are earning less than US$50.00. Fifty United States dollars is approximately 3500.00 Liberian dollars and is not sufficient to sustain even a single person for a month who must amongst other things, be transported to and from work. Like female journalists, their male counterparts are also affected by low wage. Journalists are compel to seek ill-professional means to ensure an acceptable living standard. Media institutions in Liberia are paying the journalists far lower than the government’s minimum wage of $70.00 USD. Until media institutions can improve the earning of the journalists, the issue of receiving bribes won’t be curtail.

I guess the poor salary contributes to 99 percent of bribes for journalists in my country Malawi. A lot of journalists I have interacted with on this issue all say that they do so because the salary they get is not enough to sustain them hence the need for them to find extra cash in the form of bribes. It is not only "cash for coverage" it is also sometimes "cash to kill the story" deemed not in good taste with the source especially business gurus and politicians. To end this, media house should start pay better salaries and good incentives for journalists.

This is a very serious virus that has creeped into this honourable profession. lt will be very difficult to put an end to this especially in developing countries where poverty is key issue. Media owners do alot of eveil with politicans and you expect their staff to fold their hands and watch them? They kill reports because they are in retainership with government, cooperate organizations and multi national companies. Their staff are not well paid. lt is worst when money is tagged on news report. A reporter is asked to do commercial news reporting, marketing to make some extra bucks from commissions. What is the faith of a journalists who is paid a hundred dollars and above and such journalists has got a family, intends to pay his childrens school fees, take care of his family needs. lt's a very parthetic situation especially here in Nigeria. Quacks are flooded in the market in the name of journalism. lt is a very serious issue that need to be addressed to reposition the journalists and bring dignity to this noble profession, especially in a situation where a media house is private and the government owned media is being controlled by the government. l appreciate this topic it has been a burden in my heart all the while. l hope that we find solutions to this parasite that has eaten deep into the profession. lt's a big virus, worst that the HIV/AIDS syndrome. lf l say there is objectivity and accountability in our reporting l lie. Something has to be done fast. Even the so call media houses in developed countries who hire freelance journalists from the developing countries are not helping issues. you hire someone and pay him peanut after risking his or her life to file for you reports that CNN will lift from you. They also give rooms for this journalists to use that as an avenue to making fast money because there is a rush of wanting to appear on International television stations therefore, they pay this reporters so much money to write what he as paid for. Let's stop the trend. The so called international journalists in this developing countries are also enriching themselves as well collecting so much monies especially from politicians who lie to world that they've done this or that in their communities. Grace Ekang Nigeria

This practice is simply a disturbing one. it is real in my side of the world . it is like epidemic. it weakens journalists and take power and or authority away from the newsmen. it is doing much injury to the profession. this apparently is affecting journalism. Sad enough the p[plague of poverty and poor remuneration is helping this practice to thrive.

I believe independent Journalism Is the way out. Until Journalist live above this practice practicability of making impact and extolling good governance will be difficult.

Timothy Bamidele Nigeria

very sure, i get all of you, but the fact of the matter is that, they normally say that it is just a nice way of saying thank you, because they know the stress u had to go through before getting to the programme and so on....

very sure, i get all of you, but the fact of the matter is that, they normally say that it is just a nice way of saying thank you, because they know the stress u had to go through before getting to the programme and so on....