Journalists at The City Review and Al-Hagiga newspapers are facing legal threats from their employer, RAK MEDIA, following a go-slow initiated on July 24 over persistent pay disputes.
RAK MEDIA’s management has reportedly resorted to threats and intimidation rather than addressing the underlying issues. The journalists have been advocating for a pay review to better reflect the current economic conditions.
Leek Lual John Deng, the managing partner at Vision Attorneys and legal representative for both newspapers, has issued a notice to the journalists. It accuses them of publishing defamatory statements and threatens legal action unless the allegations are retracted and the offending content removed. Deng’s notice demands an immediate apology from the journalists, warning of potential legal repercussions if the conditions are not met.
“The content of the said publication has been widely shared in journalists’ WhatsApp forums and carries defamatory statements against the two companies as seen in the statements highlighted in paragraphs 14 and 15 respectively,” the letter states.
“You are asked to apologize to the companies and cease publication of baseless allegations against the companies with immediate effect.”
The go-slow has resulted in an increased reliance on wire (online) stories and a reduction in local reporting. This change has alarmed readers who value the original and locally focused journalism traditionally provided by the two outlets.
The dispute has highlighted significant disparities in pay between expatriate and national journalists. According to a press release from the journalists, expatriate staff earn a minimum of $2,500 per month, including benefits, while national journalists receive less than $100 per month. The journalists attribute this wage gap to the depreciation of the South Sudan Pound (SSP), which has diminished the value of their salaries.
A reporter at The City Review English daily, Yiep Joseph, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the management had issued suspension letters to journalists for raising their concerns.
He added that the reporters have faced intimidation, including encounters with the National Security Service (NSS) personnel and the police. Yiep confirmed that the journalists were planning to involve the Media Authority and the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) in the matter.
“We forwarded the matter to UJOSS, we will involve the Media Authority and maybe AMDISS to look into the case. This is another serious intimidation,” Yiep said.
As the situation unfolds, both the journalists and their supporters were calling for a resolution that ensures a safe work environment.