Stop accepting soli - GJA Journalist of the Year tells journalists

The reigning Best Journalist of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Ms Doreen Hammond has urged Ghanaian journalists to stop accepting ‘soli’ because it is not a good practice.

The Junior Graphic editor believes ‘soli’ can easily influence the storyline of a journalist.

‘Soli’ in Ghanaian journalism practice is an amount of money paid to a journalist after he or she covers an event for publication for their respective media organisations. Some have justified it as a form of transportation fare for the journalist from the event centre back to their media houses.

Speaking to Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday, Ms Hammond said she does not accept soli.

"Soli is something you take to influence. I don’t take soli," Ms Hammond said.

"Soli is not right to the extent that it influences you. Taking money to drop a story is unacceptable. Soli is wrong if it will influence you from the right thing or lose credibility".

She, however, acknowledged that advertisers of media houses tend to influence reports, but the act is wrong as it impeded objectivity and independence of the media house.

Doreen Hammond is a columnist of the Daily Graphic and a multiple GJA awards winner. She won Best report for health (print) 2017, best report for education (print) 2015, best feature writer (print) 2011, and best female writer (print) 2010.