This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
On December 5, 2019, US Ambassador Kyle McCarter gave journalists a gift of thanksgiving turkey, which he personally carved in their newsrooms. While the gesture was appreciated, it has raised questions about the ethics of journalists accepting gifts from those they cover.
According to the Code of Conduct for the Practice of Journalism in Kenya, journalists should not accept gifts or favors from those who might seek to influence coverage or compromise their integrity. The Nation Media Group's policy on gifts is also clear, stating that gifts can compromise the integrity of journalists, editors, and their employers.
While some journalists may argue that they can remain impartial despite receiving gifts, the fact remains that credible news organizations worldwide forbid their journalists from accepting gifts from news sources and potential newsmakers. This is a matter of professional ethics and independence, and giving readers the right image and appearance of professional journalists who have integrity.
The US ambassador's gesture was part of the Thanksgiving Day celebrations in America, a nation Kenyans admire. However, the gift was not just a harmless gesture, but also a potential source of conflict of interest or bias in reporting.
As one journalist noted, 'Thank you balozi @USAmbKenya for the courtesy call and for bringing us the turkey.' However, even as journalists chomped the turkey, ethics did not change: journalists should not accept gifts from people they cover or are likely to cover.
