Dear Editor,
Please allow us the space and anonymity to bring several issues to the public’s attention. By now many would know why we cannot put our names to this letter. Many of our colleagues would be targeted if we do.
Once again, the state media is being undermined by the government. We were vocal about it under the APNU/AFC and there is no reason that we should not speak out now.
First, the state media is being side-lined from resources and even providing coverage to ministers as well as the President. This coverage includes overseas trips, which is consistently prioritised for PPP friendly media.
There is simply no room for our workers to get exposure and/or experience by extending our expertise to many of these events and trips. We are simply being told what to do and when to do it and most of it merely reactionary.
A major cause for concern is the fact that state media workers are being denied access to training. Several of us have been denied opportunities to travel overseas by the subject minister. In one case, the minister even sent a “staff” of OPM to a training for media, robbing us of so many important opportunities to grow.
The state media workers, particularly journalists, are being told they cannot attend these trainings due to Public Service Ministry Rules. Mind you, we are not public servants. Many of these trips are fully funded and grant media workers much needed exposure to a variety of issues. But our professional development is not taken into consideration.
The state media is falling part. There is no leadership. People are leaving in droves. The Head of DPI prefers to run around as the President’s social media camera rather than lead while the newsrooms of Chronicle and NCN remain under the failing direction of the subject ministers.
Which brings us to the media academy being touted by the Minister. This does not train the media. This trains people with party cards. Few of these people enter the media if any at all. They do not even enter the state media. Lots of money is being spent to fund trainers who do not even have public information at heart and do not question why they are solely being hired. None of this serves the state media.
President Ali has left us out in insulation. After preaching much needed change and improvement, we are left to tyranny.
Shame! Shame! Shame!
Signed,
State Media Journalists
