Reporting on CG Journalists.yemen.en

8/6/2019 Reporting on CG Journalists.yemen.en

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How to Write about Cor orate Governance

Prepared and Presented by

Yasser Akkawi


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An active and informed media is essential ine p ng sma nvestors an ot er a ecte

stakeholders make informed decisions

Good governance is a fundamental elementof a democratic society.

strengthens a democratic system.


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,

Governance isabouttheunderlyingethicsofacorporation.

Poormanagementcanaffectgovernanceea governanceun erm nes e nanc a an

operationalperformanceofacorporation

company.


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Corporate Governanceorporate Governance Business Ethicsusiness Ethicsorporate Governanceorporate Governance Business Ethicsusiness Ethics

Guide for behaviorGuide for behaviorStructure of decisionStructure of decision--makingmaking

CORE VALUESORE VALUESTransparencyTransparency

a rnessa rnessAccountabilityAccountability

CIPE 2008

espons yespons y


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Ethical business practices increase the ability tokeep existing customers and gain new ones

Positive impact on employees

Attracts foreign and domestic investment

Improves the image of the company to the public

society and being a good corporate citizen

CIPE 2008


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Effective corporate governance means that: Transparency values are present

Investors receive timely and relevantinformation

-doors

Decision-makers are held accountable for

t eir actions Managers act in the interest of a company

CIPE 2008


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Functioning Markets

Rule ofRule ofGoodGoodPro ertPro ert Access toAccess toMarketMarket

CIPE 2008

LawLawovernancovernanc

eeRightsRights

n orma on orma o

nnEntryEntry


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Owners and managers in family firms aree same so s corpora e governance s

relevant?

Need access to new capital

Prepare for succession planning Transparency in decision-making

Improve company image in the community

Confront corruption

CIPE 2008


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Separate family and company relationships

Address differing interests of among familymembers some want dividends others want toreinvest profit)

-policies for the company

Create a strategy to handle growth of company

CIPE 2008


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Findoutwhatinformationthecompanyhasactuallysubmittedandask

Arethereportsaccurate?

Arethereportsadequate?

Howeasyisitforshareholderstoaccessinformation?

Whatisthecompanysattitudetowardshareholdersandother

stakeholders?


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Itisessentialthateverycorporategovernancestoryincludesthebasic

e ementso goo ourna sm:

Factualandaccurateinformation

re esources

Jargonfreelanguage

Balanceandfairness

Timeframe

Context &background

Thesowhatangle


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Serveourreaders/listeners/viewers;

Representthemwhentheycannotbepresent;

Findandtellthetruthasfarasyoucan;

xposepro ems rau corrup on neg gence ncompe ence

abuseofpower;

Actasanindependentwatchdog (especiallywhereregulationsor

thelegalsystemisimperfectorinsufficient);


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Challengebusinesspeople,politicians,regulators,andabsolutely

anyoneinvolved

Checkinconsistenciesincommentsandclaims

Reportviewsfromallsides

Explainandgivebackground

na yze

e

s u a o n

w

e

e p

o

resources


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For oodcor orate overnance acom an sleadershi

shouldbeclearandtransparentabouthowacompanyisrun

If

the

media

does

its

job

well,

it

will

help

make

the

situation

moretransparent;

Themediasjobistoaskquestionsandfollowuptheanswers;

Journalistsmustunderstandcorporategovernanceissuesto


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Forbalanceaskavarietyofdifferentstakeholderstheirviewson

corporategovernancequestions;

StakeholdersrepresentawiderangeofsourcesforstoryideasonCG;

Buildyourknowledge.Thinkmoreabouttheissuesaroundcorporate

overnanceand ouma etmoreideasforstories

Corporategovernanceisawaytolookfortherootofacompanys


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Companynewsisnotjustaboutreportingresultsandperformancebut

alsowhathappenswithinacompanytoachievethat;

Itsnotjustaboutstrategybuthowacompanydecidedonthat

strategy;

Hi hli htwheretrans arenc islackin and rivile eexists.Otherwise

someonegetsanunfairadvantage,whichislikelytobeinefficient;


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Highlightwhatdiffersinyourcountryfrominternationallyaccepted

goodorbestpractice(andaskwhy);

Seewhatlaws/regulations/codesyoudonthaveinyourcountrythat

othersdoandaskwhynot?;

Discusstherelationshi betweenthefinancialcrisisandcor orate

governanceissues audienceinteresttendstoincreasewhen

marketsfallandcom aniescrash


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Highlight issuesratherthanthetermcorporategovernancebutbegin

to

use

the

term

in

articles

and

explain

what

it

means.

Poorcorporategovernancecanleadto:

CorruptionandFraud

Conflictsofinterest

n er erence e ween am ypro emsan ecompany

Taxevasionormoneylaundering

Poortreatmentofemployees

Disregardfortheenvironment

Theseare issuesthat affectall Yemenis


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toyouraudience;

Peoplelikereadingaboutpeople.Humanizethe

ordinarypeople?


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Askcompanieswhytheydontfollowacceptedcorporate

governanceprincipleswhereothersdo;

Ifacompanyisnotsubmittinginformationtothepublic,askthem

whynot?

Checktheb lawsofacom an whatdothe re uirethe

companytodo? Aretheycomplyingwiththeirownrules?


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Seewhatschangedfromcompanyspreviousannualreportetc.what

donttheyreportorhighlightanymore?Havetheychangedfocusand,

ifso,why?;

Trytofindpeopleontheinsidethatwillgiveyouinformation but

bewarelegalproblems;

Raisingquestionsatanearlystagecanwarnpeopleofpotential

roblemsbeforetheauthoritiestakeaction;


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Trytoinfluencegovernmentsandregulatorstotakenecessaryaction;

Probetoseeifcompaniesputactiontotheirwordsaboutcommitting

togoodcorporategovernance

Followup/monitoranypromisesofaction;

, ,

playerspartnersandcontributors;

SubscribetospecialistpublicationslikeGlobalProxyWatch.


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Corporategovernanceaffectsshareholders,workers,customers,

suppliers,financiersconcernedaboutinvestments,peoplewith

pensionfunds youhavetoillustratetheimpact.

Executiveexcess.Greed.Powerstru les


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CompanyEmployees;

CompanyAnalysts;

FormerEmployees;

;

PRRepresentatives;

IndustryAssociations;

Competitors;and

FrontlinePersonnel.


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Goodreportingonbusinessandeconomictrendscanbefoundon: BBCatwww.bbc.co.uk

. .

TheEconomistatwww.economist.com:Thisofferssomearticles

withoutasubscription. TheFinancialTimesatwww.ft.com(partialsubscription)

Reutersatwww.reuters.com

. .


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