Chequebook journalism: a South African picture
Date
2009-09-15T11:48:50Z
Authors
Stos, Susan Lisabeth
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Abstract
Chequebook journalism is the convention of paying for stories. It is considered
antithetical to good journalism, yet is essentially ignored in many codes of conduct.
This research report investigates television actuality programs Carte Blanche, Special
Assignment and Third Degree in which the theory, as well as the practice of
chequebook journalism was discussed with the journalists and executive producers.
Discussion expanded into other contingent, morally suspect areas of payment, and
the lines they felt should not be transgressed. Four focus groups of viewers then
debated chequebook journalism and the quality of these programs. It was
anticipated that the practice of journalism would be in line with audience views yet
the standard of journalism as herein established surpassed viewer estimation.
Whereas the topic has been written of extensively in many first world Englishspeaking
countries, no research has been conducted in South Africa, thus adding
valuable information to the study of journalism.
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Keywords
chequebook journalism, paying for stories, buying stories, television journalism, ethics