Abstract

The terms “brown envelope” and news commercialization have become household phrases in contemporary Nigerian society. While brown envelope refers to monetary offer to media practitioners which often tilt their sense of news judgement and professionalism in the discharge of their duties, news commercialization is the presentation of commercials and adverts in news form as if they satisfy the criteria for news judgment. These concepts have been the bane of journalism practice in Nigeria. Often, journalists allude to the depressed economy and unhealthy operational environment as reasons for these unprofessional practices. Efforts by few ethical journalists, journalism educators and researchers to eradicate these twin enemies of ethical and objective journalism practices have remained a wild goose chase. The paper explores, by analytical approach, journalism practices in Nigeria, the operational environment that encourages these trends and concludes that these twin concepts are redefining news judgment and media ethics in Nigeria.

Key Words: Brown Envelope, Bribery, News Commercialization, News Judgement, Media Ethics.

^JCMRJournal of Communication and Media Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, October  2011, 83 – 93.

© Delmas Communications Ltd.

About the author

*Venatus Nosike Agbanu is a Lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus, Nigeria.

Full Article

Words: 6,038; Pages: 11