Well, this act has been a daily routine in Africa oldest independent state, Liberia. In this country, almost every reporter who goes in the field walks away with "CATOO", the famus given name. But i think it undermines the credibility of a reporter to accept a gift either in a form of cash. The wirter will straightly write at the wills of the source. In my country where i write for one of the biggest newspapers, the act is often carried out in press conferences, plitical rallies and other news gatherings. If you don't give "Catoo" to a journalist, your story will not be published or either published unethically. But if you pay, then you bear the flowers.

Stephen D. Kollie Reporter FrontPAge Africa Newspaper , www.frontpageafricaonline.com

THIS PRACTICE IS AN ORDINARY HAPPENING IN OUR LOCAL CAMEROONIAN MEDIA. IT IS RATHER THE NORM HERE. IF YOU WATCH PRIME TIME NEWS ON OUR LOCAL STATIONS, MUCH OF WHAT YOU SEE ARE CONTENT PAID FOR BY THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR EVENTS COVERED. WHILE ATTENDING AN EVENT HERE IN DOUALA,CAMEROON, JOURNALISTS HELD TO RANSOM THE ORGANIZER FOR FOR FULFILLING ALL HIS PROMISES . THE PRACTICE EVEN HAS A LOCAL NAME CALLED 'GOMBO'. THEREFORE, THE ATTITUDE IS SO DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN OUR LOCAL MEDIA LANDSCAPE AND IS NOW THE ORDER OF THE DAY. ISIDORE MBIANDA, BAMENDA, CAMEROON.94047775

My experience working as a trainee reporter in Nigeria, West Africa is that there is a lot of malpractices that pass for journalism in that clime. Yellow journalism is the norm in most medial organizations. Reporters and editors routinely accept "appreciations" from deep pockets, corporate organizations and government agencies. As a result of economic instability, reporters and editors are not getting decent paychecks, and this makes them recourse to "self-help" by way of taking bribes from news sources. The situation is so messy that the very few reporters who are honest are looked upon with suspicion by their colleagues.

there is a system in India. The journalists are offered vouchers and gifts at the end of every press conference conducted by any corporate houses. Even there are the journalists who are not offered the salary from their organisation and are been told to survive on vouchers and gifts provided by the corporate companies. However, there are many journalists who did not accept these vouchers and gifts.

I do believe Press releases are information from an organisation for the public. When used, it should not take the space for News, but rather take a backstage as additional content of a publication. When it is paid for as advertising, it is accepted, afterall, most media houses are there to make money. As for taking money to cover events, the money given should not matter if there is no news in the event covered. It must be Newsworthy, and the reporting should be fair and conscise. Don't forget some of these Journalists are so poorly paid especially in the Third world country that some assumed they are being given licence to make money through their beats.

I work in development communications, and it infuriates me when this argument -- "just how people do business" -- is used. If you advocate for "freedom of the press" in the developing world, then it seems to me you have to realize that truly independent journalism cannot be compromised by compensation. You want to be a journalist? You cover a story based on its newsworthy or human interest merits; you're accurate and fair. You want your story told? You make sure you have a solid, newsworthy or interesting story with the 5 W's. And you don't accept that corruption is part of your job description.

It's simple: journalists do not pass go, do not collect $200. We have to band together and make publishers stop these practices, it's the only way. Public awareness can help - readers don't want fake info either.

There's a difference between developing countries and others -- in the first, that's just how people do business. I suspect it will be harder to change because it is accepted as the norm. In the second, there's a creep of advertisers trying to change the rules even though most journalists would agree that they should not be paid for coverage -- like your example w/the press release etc.