Goma — Some thought that coupage would be an incentive for Congolese journalists to do their jobs better. In exchange for broadcasting a certain report or covering a particular event, media houses in the DRC began accepting 'gifts' in cash. Coupage isn't new, but the system has led to many abuses and some believe the practice is altogether unlawful.

Under coupage, some say journalists are becoming synonymous with propagandists. Its opponents say the media is broadcasting useless news because it's being paid to do so, while at the same time blocking the voices of people who can't afford to be heard.

A vivid example comes from Rutshuru territory, in North Kivu province, where a small group recently set out to meet peers from a neighbouring community. They were headed to participate in a debate, but along the way got ambushed by a rebel group. One of the young men managed to escape. He alerted a friend in Goma, the province's capital.

That friend alerted some of the city's dignitaries. But when he went to relay the incident to the press, he was in for a shock.

"A media house asked me for 100 US dollars before broadcasting our alarm cry," recalls the friend, his name withheld to protect his identity. "I wonder if people like us, who live on less than a dollar a day, don't have the right to express ourselves."

The group was finally released, three months later, thanks to intervention by some influential political figures in the region. But not a single report on the kidnapping showed up in the media.

Legal violation

Coupage violates Article 7 of the code of deontology and ethics for journalists in the DR Congo, as published by the Congolese Media Observatory. According to the article, a journalist should never accept a gift from a source in exchange for agreeing to broadcast, conceal, distort or suppress information.

Local civil society activists have denounced this system. Arsène Tungali, founder of non-profit organization Rudi International, is one of them. He recently held a conference on good governance and when he approached a local media house to cover the event, the answer was unequivocal.

"They told me in no uncertain terms that if didn't pay 150 US dollars, they couldn't come," Arsène explains, noting that the conference's total budget was barely 100 US dollars.

A number of journalists are also against the practice. Nevertheless, the influential among them manage to impose their way and the status quo goes unchecked.

Some say coupage goes back to Mubutu's reign. But today it's led many young news consumers to grow disenchanted by current media reports.

"It is appalling to watch news that only reports on the trips of government officials and the guests they've entertained, while we have more important social issues," says Ibrahim Ali Shako, a young Goma resident.

What next?

Faced with various complaints, DRC media and government officials claim to have come up with appropriate courses of action. The government has scheduled a clean-up campaign whose aim is to shut down all media houses that do not operate lawfully. But when the campaign will begin remains uncertain.

"We are waiting for the end of the war to take action," says Eric Kitsa, head of the information and communication office in North Kivu. "The challenge we will face is with non-licenced media houses that are backed by political figures."

Meanwhile, the commercial network Mishapi has expressed a willingness to listen to the dissenting voices.

"If these youth do not have money to appear in the news, they can still appear on other thematic programmes. They just have to let us know in advance," says Blaise Pascal, head of programming.

Still, it seems that for many in Goma, getting one's message broadcast will remain an out-of-reach luxury. Residents may contact the media, but without money to support the coupage, they shouldn't expect the reporters to do the reporting.