Cfp - Brown envelope journalism

[Terje Skjerdal]

Call for papers

African Communication Research 3/2010 (December 2010), theme issue:

Brown envelopes in African journalism

’Brown envelope’ is a popular term used for various kinds of payment
that media workers receive from sources for journalistic coverage. The
payment is usually given undercover, thus suggesting that the practice
is customarily regarded as unethical or at least unofficial. The
practice is well-known in African journalism, which is evident from
the many local terms it has acquired: gatu (Liberia), soli (Ghana),
coupage (DRC), gombo (Cameroon), ndalama yamatako (Zambia), keske
(Nigeria), buche (Ethiopia), etc. To various degrees, it has developed
into a common undertaking for African journalism cultures.

The upcoming December 2010 issue of African Communication Research
seeks to shed light on the phenomenon of brown envelopes and similar
practices in African journalism. We’re inviting contributions from a
variety of methodological approaches and with different theoretical
angles. Discussions on so-called freebies and general corruption of
the newsroom are also welcome. Articles could for instance be
concerned with, but are not limited to:

- Mapping brown envelope practices in local journalism cultures
- Comparative research and analysis between different newsrooms and
contexts
- Exploring brown envelopes as a semi-institutionalized contract
between the media and society
- Identifying causes for corruption in the newsroom
- Locating brown envelope practices within general journalism ethics
theory
- Analysing the brown envelope phenomenon as an exemplar of
contestations in the formulation of professionalism within African
journalism

Final articles should be between 5,000 and 8,000 words in length. All
contributions will go through a rigorous peer-review process with at
least two anonymous reviewers.

Deadline for short proposals: 30 May 2010
Acceptance note: 15 June 2010
Papers due: 15 August 2010

Theme issue editor: Terje S. Skjerdal (Gimlekollen School of
Journalism and Communication, Kristiansand, Norway/Addis Ababa
University, Ethiopia)
Please submit proposals to terje.s...@mediehogskolen.no.

African Communication Research (ISSN 1821-6544) started publication in
2008 and is published three times a year by St. Augustine University
of Tanzania, Mwanza, Tanzania for communication researchers in Africa.
The journal carries scholarly research articles from across the
African continent. An example issue can be accessed from:
http://ccms.ukzn.ac.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=868&Itemid=28

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