Editorial employees of Nation Media in Uganda have received the news of the proposed new structural changes with a mixture of fear and the feeling that they will not work.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The changes are supposed to take effect on Monday April 8 but many doubt they will be implemented to the letter.
Several staff from Daily Monitor and NTV, who spoke to Bbeg Media in confidence for fear of reprisals, said the very changes have been in the pipeline for years without being acted upon.
Asked whether they believed that management was now ready to implement them, most said “it was not.”
One staffer said the new structures have blurred roles and positions, a potential for internal conflict.
“We are not sure where Tabu Butagira and Robert Madoi (The managing editors for Daily and Weekends respectively) fit in the new structure,” said one reporter.
According to a communication from Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager for Editorial at Nation Media Uganda, there will be one News and Planning Desk based at Serena Hotel.
The office will be headed by veteran journalist, Williams Kato who is currently based at NTV. Kato according to the structure is supposed to report to Butagira.
This lack of clarity, some reporters feared will create confusion and ultimately power struggles.
There are those who told us that they feel the idea of a “single newsroom” for Daily Monitor, NTV, KFM and the website is not feasible in the current circumstances. The newsroom is supposed to be based at Serena conference hall, NTV Uganda’s main office and some say it is small to accommodate the big number of staff.
“What happens to the newsroom at Namuwongo?”queried one staffer.
Then some reporters, producers and photographers that were sent to “general pools” fear that this could be the beginning of their exit at the company.
“It means you are there, there,” said one staffer.
Monitor last laid off staff during Covid-19 pandemic but given the lean economic times, there is a feeling at Namuwongo and Serena that another axe could be wielded.
Last year, the group was forced to close Ddembe FM saying it did not make financial sense to continue running an operation that was not profitable.