This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, a case came to light where a complainant accused a journalist of being bribed to write negative stories about her.
The complainant claimed that her business rivals had hired the journalist to spoil her character and business.
Such accusations of 'brown envelope' journalism are common, but the real issue lies with those who offer the bribes.
The term 'brown envelope' refers to a bribe, often in the form of Sh1,000 notes stacked in an envelope.
Journalists rarely ask for or demand bribes; they are simply given.
However, giving out brown envelopes without being asked does not make it any less of a bribe.
Politicians, corporate, and NGO types are the main tempters and seducers of journalists, offering them brown envelopes under the guise of 'facilitation', 'lunch', or 'transport'.
These offers can be tempting, but they are, in fact, bribes to induce journalists to be friendly in their reportage.
Journalism is not for sale, but some politicians, corporates, and NGO types seem to think otherwise.
As a community project member, I was embarrassed when a Sh10,000 provision was made in the budget for journalists invited to cover an event.
The chairperson explained that it was 'just the way it's done' to ensure coverage, but I argued that journalists can do their job without being given brown envelopes.
