Local newsrooms among ‘most undemocratic workplaces’
Veteran journalist Wonder Guchu has criticised Namibian newsrooms as being among the most undemocratic workplaces, stating that poor management, toxic atmospheres, and hostile environments drive professionals out of the industry. Speaking on The Agenda last week, Guchu said journalists are losing their voice within their own workspaces.
“You can’t raise your concerns without repercussions. If you speak out, you don’t walk away unscathed—you’ll be nailed for it. So people find it unnecessary to endure stress and depression when they have other options,” he said.
He lamented that newsroom managers, many of whom are former journalists, fail to support their colleagues. “Instead of defending our own people, we look for reasons to fault them. Management always finds reasons to punish someone. Why would anyone stay just to be crucified? That’s why we’re losing talent,” he said.
Guchu also pointed to inadequate salaries, noting that many journalists find the pressure and demands of the job do not justify their compensation.
Leadership and media freedom
Former managing editor of New Era, Johnathan Beukes, echoed Guchu’s sentiments, citing poor leadership and the prioritization of business interests over media freedom. “This failure is evident across both private and publicly funded media. Some outlets avoid publishing controversial content to maintain relationships with advertisers or business partners,” he said.
He accused publicly funded media of suffering from government interference, blaming the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology for undermining media independence. “The officials responsible for media policy lack understanding of how critical an independent media is to a functioning democracy,” Beukes said. He added that his own departure from New Era was due to inadequate leadership and undue influence from senior government officials.
Journalists speaking out
Charmaine Ngatjiheue, spokesperson for the Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu), acknowledged the ongoing challenges journalists face but noted a growing trend of reporters speaking up about inequalities in the industry. “We’ve seen cases where people worked without formal contracts or were dismissed via text message. Journalists used to remain silent to avoid burning bridges, but this is changing as awareness of labour rights grows,” she said.
Ngatjiheue highlighted additional issues, such as the lack of overtime pay and insufficient protections for journalists. “We’re treated like essential workers without the rights that come with that designation,” she added.
The discussion underscores the need for reforms in Namibia’s media industry to protect journalists and ensure their workplaces uphold democratic principles.
“You can’t raise your concerns without repercussions. If you speak out, you don’t walk away unscathed—you’ll be nailed for it. So people find it unnecessary to endure stress and depression when they have other options,” he said.
He lamented that newsroom managers, many of whom are former journalists, fail to support their colleagues. “Instead of defending our own people, we look for reasons to fault them. Management always finds reasons to punish someone. Why would anyone stay just to be crucified? That’s why we’re losing talent,” he said.
Guchu also pointed to inadequate salaries, noting that many journalists find the pressure and demands of the job do not justify their compensation.
Leadership and media freedom
Former managing editor of New Era, Johnathan Beukes, echoed Guchu’s sentiments, citing poor leadership and the prioritization of business interests over media freedom. “This failure is evident across both private and publicly funded media. Some outlets avoid publishing controversial content to maintain relationships with advertisers or business partners,” he said.
He accused publicly funded media of suffering from government interference, blaming the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology for undermining media independence. “The officials responsible for media policy lack understanding of how critical an independent media is to a functioning democracy,” Beukes said. He added that his own departure from New Era was due to inadequate leadership and undue influence from senior government officials.
Journalists speaking out
Charmaine Ngatjiheue, spokesperson for the Namibia Media Professionals Union (Nampu), acknowledged the ongoing challenges journalists face but noted a growing trend of reporters speaking up about inequalities in the industry. “We’ve seen cases where people worked without formal contracts or were dismissed via text message. Journalists used to remain silent to avoid burning bridges, but this is changing as awareness of labour rights grows,” she said.
Ngatjiheue highlighted additional issues, such as the lack of overtime pay and insufficient protections for journalists. “We’re treated like essential workers without the rights that come with that designation,” she added.
The discussion underscores the need for reforms in Namibia’s media industry to protect journalists and ensure their workplaces uphold democratic principles.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article