PRESS STATEMENT EDITORS SHOULD BE HONEST ON ALLOWANCES Blantyre Press Club has learnt with concern over the hypocrisy of selected editors regarding allowances from the state house. President Professor Peter Mutharika invited journalist for a chat and gave them money which has caused uproar in the media fraternity. We as Blantyre press club have observed that there is a big gap- between editors and reporters in the country. Most reporters receive meager salaries that they even fail to pay house rentals save for allowances in functions. Most reporters do not receive lunch allowance from their respective media houses. We therefore implore ‘selected’ editors to make sure that the welfare of reporters is addressed. We think the money that was gotten from Sanjika cannot brainwash a reporter to talk good of the sitting president, as we believe journalists in the country are professionals who adhere to ethics and principles of their job. Reporters have been receiving money from different politicians, either from the ruling or opposition side. As Blantyre press club we would like to call upon editors to be truthful. We believe the conscious of journalists cannot be bought by money from anyone to twist a story. We have observed that there is a major challenge of generation gap, between reporters and editors. Editors, we have observed, live in their own world, while reporters live in another world. We have written Editors Forum, Namisa, JUMA, to discuss in general the allowance syndrome. We believe nobody has moral grounds to argue on reporters’ allowances when the gate keepers are receiving peanuts. And we also believe that the cautious of reporters cannot be bought by money in form of allowances. We also urge, organizations not to stop looking for the welfare of journalists in situation where the reporter has been taken away from his or her duty station to cover an event, because, not all reporters receive lunch allowance from their offices. We therefore concur with JUMA, calling on Editors to ensure that reporters are given allowances before going for an assignment. Blantyre Press Club will remain and maintain to belong to the plebeians who are in majority but have minority voice. Signed Simeon Shumba Secretary General
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 13:34:06 +0000
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