Ethical dilemmas in reporting corruption: a comparative analysis of government and private newspapers in Tanzania

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Periodical article

Title:	Ethical dilemmas in reporting corruption: a comparative analysis of government and private newspapers in Tanzania
Author:	Manara, Kenny
Year:	2011
Periodical:	Africa Media Review (ISSN 0258-4913)
Volume:	19
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	101-121
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Tanzania
Subjects:	journalism professional ethics corruption newspapers
Abstract:	Almost all corruption scandals are exposed by privately-owned newspapers in Tanzania but these newspapers are also accused of being more unethical than government-owned newspapers. The main purpose of this article is therefore to compare ethical dilemmas in coverage of grand corruption facing government and private newspapers. The findings suggest that the biggest ethical dilemma facing journalists in private newspapers was whether or not to respect individual privacy. On the other hand, journalists working with government newspapers are more concerned about whether or not to safeguard public interests. The article found that many ethical problems facing private newspapers are structural, and give the business and ruling elite room to turn the press into a battlefield for special interests. Several strategies are discussed regarding how to address conflict of interest issues facing both private and government-owned newspapers in the country. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French. [Journal abstract]