Almost 90% of journalists in Guinea-Bissau’s private sector earn poorly and have no employment contracts

Almost 90% of journalists in Guinea-Bissau’s private media earn less than 100,000 francs CFA (about 150 euros) per month and have no employment contract, concluded a report presented today.

Prepared at the request of the Association of Professional Media Women, in partnership with the Association for Cooperation Among Peoples, and funded by Camões, Institute for Cooperation and Language, the report outlines the profile of the media in Guinea-Bissau.

Regarding private media, dominated by radio stations, the data indicate that 229 professionals work in that sector and that the “overwhelming majority is male.

“Of that number, 89% earn less than 100,000 francs CFA, and almost 71% of the employees do not have formalized work contracts, nor are they registered in the social security system. Facts that put at risk the principles of independence and objectivity in Guinean journalism,” the document stresses.

The report also states that only 14% of media professionals have higher education, and 29% have completed 12th grade.

According to the report, the media have a “good relationship with certain social structures such as traditional power, religious power, civil society organizations, and international organizations.” Still, the same cannot be said of their relationship with politicians.

“The relationship between the `media’ and political parties in Guinea-Bissau presents a certain degree of susceptibility, which can sometimes lead to clashes and hostilities about journalistic content in the coverage of events,” the report stresses.

The financial situation of the media is weak, which, the report stresses, “reflects negatively on the working condition of each professional” without being able to “create basic conditions that ensure the regular payment of salaries” or “discounts for social security.

The study recommended more training and support to the media.

It concluded that in this sector, “there is still much to do” and that the deteriorating situation is also related to conflicts and political instability, violations of the Press Law, and freedom of expression.

“Guinean rulers are on top of violating such legal provisions, resulting in increased government interference in state media. The right of access to information is not guaranteed, and journalists continue to self-censor when covering government shortcomings, organized crime, and the continuing military influence.”

The report states that the media in Guinea-Bissau are “deprived of financial means and weak institutional support, and this impedes the development process of the sector.

On the other hand, the “organs of the class have been limited in their interventions of promotion and defense of their members due to statutory limitations and financial conditions”.