International Journal of Academic Research in Education and Review

Vol. 14(3), pp. 129-140, August 2026

ISSN: 2360-7866

https://doi.org/10.14662/ijarer2026500

 

Full Length Research

 

 

Revisiting the ‘Brown Envelope Syndrome’: A Case for Legitimate Media Hospitality in Nigerian Journalism

 

1Kelly Odaro-Ekhaguebor, Ph.D., 2Dr. Ubaka Anthony Ofunne and 3Otono Momodu

 

1Department of mass communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria 2Department of mass communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria. Email: tonyofunne@gmail.com 3Department of mass communication, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria. Email: muhaotono1@gmail.com

Corresponding author’s Email: kelevision2015@gmail.com  

Accepted 20 August 2026

Abstract

Abstract: The practice of journalists receiving monetary or material appreciation after interviews, press events, or media coverage has for decades provoked intense ethical debates within the Nigerian media landscape. Commonly dubbed the ‘brown envelope syndrome,’ such gestures are often perceived by the public as bribes, portraying journalists as corrupt or easily compromised. However, Professor Ben Nwanne of the Department of Mass Communication, Delta State University, Abraka, advances a refreshing academic intervention through the concept of ‘Legitimate Media Hospitality.’ He argues that tokens given in appreciation should not automatically be construed as unethical, provided they do not influence reportage or compromise professional integrity. This paper revisits the ‘brown envelope’ controversy, interrogating it through ethical, cultural, and professional lenses. It seeks to situate Nwanne’s notion of Legitimate Media Hospitality within broader media ethics discourse, contending that cultural contexts, socio-economic realities, and journalistic traditions must inform the interpretation of such acts. Using the theoretical frameworks of Social Responsibility Theory and Deontological Ethics, this opinion paper argues for a balanced understanding of journalists’ interactions with sources, where genuine appreciation is distinguished from corrupt inducement. Ultimately, it advocates the institutionalisation of ethical guidelines that recognise the difference between hospitality and bribery, in order to restore public trust and uphold professional dignity in Nigerian journalism.

 

Key Words: Brown Envelope, Media Ethics, Legitimate Media Hospitality, Journalism Practice, Nigeria, Professionalism, Ben Nwanne

Paper type: research