A Bad Situation

Malcolm Moore is the Telegraph.co.uk Shanghai Correspondent, he stated that back in 2009 he was bribed by Chinese officials. Malcolm stated in his article “the meal was organized to thank the Chinese media for their support, and a jolly time was had by all. At the end of the meal, ladies from Suning circulated the room and discreetly pressed envelopes full of cash into each journalist’s hand. After everyone had filed out, we politely tried to return the envelope, but the ladies of Suning were having none of it. The money, once handed out, could not be handed back. They refused to touch the hot envelope. In the end, we decided that we would put the money (£100) into a special Telegraph investigation fund.”
Events like this if accepted by a journalist create a double edged sword within their accuracy of reporting due to influences from outside sources. Journalists shouldn’t be under the impression that since they give out the news other businesses should be rewarding them in return for favorable news stories of their company. With this aphorism we allude to favoritism or bartering, doing business, and bribery, and unfortunately to manipulation of news and information. Temptations abound in many distinct forms: cash, personal business, paid trips, free theater and concert tickets, gifts, donations, special treatment, favors, promotional merchandise etc. Given that the journalistic function does not seek any other form of financial reward except that of the reporter’s salary and the knowledge that a job is well done as a service to society, how can the acceptance of various gifts be justified? Accepting compensation for news stories is something that should hamper one’s professional career.
Journalists within the company should be prohibited from actively seeking special favors and gifts. The underlying basis of this memorandum is to have our fellow journalist remember that the driving mission behind our news is to seek an unbiased approach towards the news we