The Effect of 'Soli' on News Reportage in Ghana

Abstract

Lately, Ghanaian journalists have been criticised for making 'soli', a synonym for 'brown envelope' in Ghanaian parlance, the norm rather than the exception. This practice is gradually killing the confidence Ghanaian media consumers have in journalists. Furthermore, distrust, scepticism, and uncertainty have dominated the public sphere regarding news reportage. The study examined journalists, event organisers and public relations practitioners' perception on 'soli' and how it affects news reportage. It surveyed randomly selected journalists, and interviewed event organisers and public relations practitioners. It became evident that in Ghana 'soli' is a moral problem rather than an ethical one. The paper concluded that 'soli' when accepted, elicit favourable reportage and makes stories advertorial news rather than a fact-based news.