SECTOR 4

4.7
Journalists and media have integrity and are
not corrupt.
Analysis
There are widespread allegations of bribery of journalists to
cover stories. There are also allegations that there are editors
on the “payroll” of some politicians for being gatekeepers of
story selection and treatment. The situation is made worse
by the fact that media houses have very few permanent
staff. They depend on correspondents who form 70% of
editorial workforce. The poorly paid correspondents depend
on “newsmakers,” namely the politicians and provincial
administrators, for such facilitation as transport and lunches,
who in turn expect favourable coverage. Forms of corruption
include transport for journalists by newsmakers, lunches, “sex
for stories,” compromise of media houses by sources etc.

Forms of
corruption
include... “sex
for stories”...

It is noted that despite these allegations and the picture painted, few cases have
been brought to the Media Council of Kenya.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator.

3

Country meets many aspects of indicator but
progress may be too recent to judge.

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator.

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has
been doing so over time.

Average score: 			

2.0 (2005=n/a; 2007=n/a)

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER KENYA 2009

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