Media Ownership and its Ethical Implications on Professionalism: A Critical Look at Journalists’ Experiences at BIG FM and STEP TV in Mbale, Uganda

Abstract

In Journalism, ethical codes serve as crucial guidelines for practitioners. However, challenges arise in fully adhering to these codes, with media ownership leading to a control syndrome over employees, thus impeding full compliance. In this study, in-depth interview was conducted using the open-ended structured interview guide to investigate the conflict between journalists' professionalism and the interests of private media owners. It examined the dilemmas faced by journalists, their coping mechanisms, and the impact of ownership controls on journalistic practices. The research focused on BIG FM and STEP TV in Mbale, Uganda as the study population. The findings indicate significant conflicts of interest and high levels of control among media owners in Mbale, Uganda. This situation pressures journalists, particularly when adhering to ethical journalism practices outlined in codes of conduct. Thus, the journalists are faced with a two-tier level of control: one from the media owners, and the other from the government. Consequently, society is left with a distorted representation of facts, political manipulation of the media, weakening of the press, and subversion of justice. The study recommends the need for continual updates and reinforcement of national journalism standards, along with ongoing legislation to tackle issues about media ownership and control. Additionally, there is a necessity to establish strong journalism unions to protect members who may be affected by conflicts of interest involving media owners. Mass sensitisation efforts are also required to support journalists and editors in upholding factual reporting across all media platforms, irrespective of owners’ interests.