Fourth Estate, A MACHIAVELLIANISM?
Machiavellianism (espoused by Niccholo Machiavelli in his work The Prince) is characterized by a duplicitous interpersonal style, a cynical disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and personal gain. When media receive gifts and favors (getting souvenirs during press conferences), or given tokens or to the greatest extent, included in the plantilla of being paid for services rendered, is it immoral?
One journalist referred to gift-giving in most Oriental settings as a tradition which some Americans and Europeans who disdained the practice during press conferences. But why such an apathy? So could there be an exception? I would like to think corruption is a give and take process, if there are takers there are corruptors. Why then cannot the media refuse? Isn’t this clear in the ethics of journalism that a bribe in any form must not supposed to be tolerated? To hell with debt of gratitude that can put media in the tar pit of corruption.
A wise man once said of corruption in simple terms — “if no one accepts corruption practice, there will be no birth to corruption as well as one getting corrupted”.
In psychology, when a person is Machiavellian there is great tendency to be unemotional, and therefore able to detach from conventional morality and hence resulting to deception and manipulation of others.
Psychologists even described Machiavellian motivation as related to cold selfishness and pure instrumentality, and those high on the trait were assumed to pursue their motives of achievement and satisfaction (getting gifts) in duplicitous ways.
More recent research on the Machiavellian motivation compared to those refusing gifts have high priority to money, power, and competition and relatively low priority to community building, self-love, and family concerns. The high Machiavellians admitted to focus on unmitigated achievement and winning at any cost.
Think about this media people, the end does not always justify the means! If in finality the media men may get compromised, then their means to reach an end are not moral.
