Journalists get their own voice

JOURNALISTS from various media houses are set to launch a union to protect media professionals from unfair labour practices.

The Media Professionals’ Union of Namibia (MPUN) will aim to prevent media houses and other stakeholders from undermining the integrity and independence of journalists.

The union will represent journalists, graphic designers, photographers, camera people, production staff, and anyone employed to produce material keeping the public informed.

Timo Shihepo, member of the union’s steering committee, yesterday said while the media has been the voice of the people, journalists lacked a coherent voice for their own issues.

“The idea was motivated by the fact that while journalists continue to advocate other people’s well-being, no one is doing that for us. When Shoprite employees took to the streets to protest inhumane employment conditions, we marched together and reported on the matter. When security guards, teachers etc. demanded salary increments, the media gave them space to air their grievances,” he said.

He said these events yielded positive results, but the individual reporting on these matters is the same person with a lower salary than that of the teacher, and could also be subjected to inhumane employment conditions.

The union structure will comprise a secretary general, deputy secretary general, treasurer, organiser, information and mobilisation secretary, and two additional members elected by congress.

All positions will be contested at a convention slated for 26 September, subject to Covid-19 state of emergency regulations.

“Details of the launch will be shared after the convention. Once elected, the leadership will be tasked with that responsibility,” he said.

Shihepo said the constitution of the union will focus on the employment and working conditions of journalists and media professionals in Namibia, and the importance of a unified voice for this group of people in the country.

The constitution will be adopted at the planned convention.

Shihepo said some of the challenges journalists face include being overworked and underpaid.

“Journalists can easily be fired via SMS. Journalists in Namibia work odd hours, yet cannot claim overtime. They risk their lives to bring about life-changing stories while their own lives are not perfect. Most of the time they do this while being ill-equipped and not protected,” he said.

Veteran journalist Gwen Lister said a journalists’ union is necessary for press freedom, and to speak on their behalf.

“As a former journalist and editor myself I can honestly say this union has been a long time coming and it really is a good thing that it is getting off the ground now,” she said.

Media ombudsman John Nakuta welcomed the move, saying it is important to have a mouthpiece that will assist in bargaining between employers and employees.

He said their office has previously received a complaint which they could not handle since it was an employment issue, but a union would have been able to deal with it.

He referred to the issue regarding freelancer Vitalio Angula, whose contract with Nampa was terminated last year following his participation in a television panel discussion on the Fishrot scandal.

“He laid a complaint with the media ombudsman and as the media ombudsman I did not have any mandate to address that issue . . ,” he said.

Nakuta urged the union to be independent of any political party or business.

During a discussion in May this year on World Press Freedom Day, veteran journalists encouraged reporters to form their own union.

Speaking on the panel, Frank Steffen, chairperson of the Editors’ Forum of Namibia (EFN), said: “[W]hile the EFN will support the possible future creation of such a unit, it is really up to journalists to do that. It cannot be the EFN, because one may end up with conflicting interests all the time,” he said.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.