Manama: The Bahrain Journalists Association yesterday warned that it would have zero-tolerance towards journalists who have accepted financial kickbacks to write reports promoting candidates in the parliamentary elections.
"We totally resent the fact that some journalists have produced and helped publish well-tailored interviews and positive reports about some candidates in the local press. This is utterly unethical and erodes the drive to consolidate a free press in Bahrain and to ensure the dissemination of plain facts without influence," BJA chairman Eisa Al Shaygi yesterday said in a press statement.
"The publication of advertorial material without mentioning its nature is a blatant violation of the law and an abuse of the trust of the readers and voters," he added.
Last month, the BJA which groups more than 350 journalists based in Bahrain, warned reporters and newspapers against taking sides in the coverage of the candidates.
A four-day workshop organised by the BJA in cooperation with the University of Missouri last April also urged journalists to adopt a balanced stance in their reports on candidates.
But reports surfaced in October claiming that some journalists were receiving up to BD1,000 (about Dh 10,000) to write positive reports and publish them in the local newspapers.
Meanwhile, more than 200 journalists are expected to cover the elections on Saturday, according to the information ministry.
