Unprotected and Underpaid: Journalists Speak Up

By Emmanuel Mbowa

Freetown, 16^th October 2025- The media landscape has long played a pivotal role in speaking truth to power and mirroring the realities of society, shaping the socio-economic and political fabric of Sierra Leone in the process. Yet, the sector continues to wrestle with compliance challenges, particularly within the broader economic framework it seeks to reform. The journalists at the heart of this transformation remain under-resourced, even as the media space records notable strides.

Reporters Detail Insecurity

Against this backdrop, Truth Media spoke with reporters across the regions to understand the challenges they face in fulfilling their mandate. A recurring concern was the widespread non-compliance with the Employment Laws and the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001 by some media outlets and employers.

“Honestly, it makes me feel very insecure. Without NASSIT, there’s no real safety net for me. If I fall sick or get injured today, I’ll have to rely on family, friends, or maybe take a loan just to get basic care,” said a journalist who works 14-hour shifts for one of Central Freetown’s leading media houses.

“And if I lose my job today, I’m on my own. No pension, no employment benefits, nothing to fall back on. It’s like living from hand to mouth, always hoping nothing goes wrong,” she added.

The Labour/Employment Law of 2023 states that “an institution should consider a casual worker as staff if they have spent six (6) months working for the employer.” Meanwhile, the NASSIT Act mandates compulsory monthly contributions, 15% of a worker’s earnings (5% from the employee and 10% from the employer), to provide retirement, invalidity, and survivor benefits. Although a review of the Act is underway, many journalists say these provisions remain largely ignored.

Contract Status and Lack of Benefits

Reporters in the regions say their contracts often exclude them from basic protections. “Based on the contract given to me, I’m considered a consultant,” said the journalist in Freetown. “There’s a clause stating my salary, but I’m not entitled to any benefits, even though I’ve spent three years here. It’s frustrating.”

She continued, “Apart from NASSIT, the biggest issues are the lack of health insurance, no transportation allowance, and no hazard pay, even when we cover dangerous or high-risk events.”

In Makeni, another reporter shared his experience: “I’m only paid in cash, and not regularly. There’s no payslip or official documentation to show any deductions for tax or anything else.” He added, “I’ve been volunteering for over three years, but I’m still not considered a staff member. No employment letter, no clear terms.”

For him, poor pay, no health insurance, no transport allowance, and no hazard pay make it difficult to survive. He’s aware of the long-term benefits he’s missing due to his employer’s non-compliance with NASSIT, but said, “Because of the notion of ‘media poverty,’ there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Despite long hours and growing responsibilities, these young professionals remain deeply concerned about their future, with no safety net in sight.

Seeking Recourse from Management

“This makes me want to leave the job at some point, but I don’t have any other job at the moment,” said a reporter from Kenema. “My colleagues and I keep raising the issue with management, but they always say they’re working on modalities to begin NASSIT payments.”

“Sometimes we use our own money to attend assignments. If anything happens, an accident or equipment loss, we’re completely on our own. No insurance, no emergency support. It’s demoralising. We risk our lives to get the story out, but there’s little support or protection.”

Another journalist in Kenema shared, “I don’t receive a salary as a radio station worker, nor does my employer pay NASSIT. I get stipends every quarter.” He explained, “I’m considered full staff because of the years I’ve spent and the experience I’ve gained. I even have an appointment letter. But I’m still not a NASSIT contributor.”

In Freetown, a reporter echoed similar frustrations. “Yes, some of us have brought it up, during staff meetings or one-on-one conversations with management. The response is usually vague,” she said. “They often say things like ‘we’re working on it’ or ‘things are tough financially right now.’ Sometimes they even turn it around and say we should be grateful to be employed at all. It’s frustrating, because legally, it’s our right, not a favour.”

MRCG on Journalists’ Welfare

In a separate document, the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), while commending Sierra Leone’s rise in the Latest World Press Freedom Ranking 2025, flagged troubling findings in its yet-to-be-released report on journalist welfare. The report notes that “most journalists are poorly paid and lack the equipment they need to work properly” a vulnerability it suggests “politicians exploit to influence coverage in exchange for financial, material or logistical support.”

This revelation echoes the lived realities of many reporters. “There’s nothing like real support to help us do effective and independent journalism,” said a reporter in Kenema. “We mostly rely on invitations from institutions, organisations, or individuals to get by.”

SLAJ & SLRU’s Intervention

Reflecting on the founding purpose of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), to defend press freedom and advocate for journalists’ welfare, President Alhaji Manika Kamara described the issue as “a perennial problem we’ve been battling with.”

He recalled that in 2020, SLAJ successfully pushed for a provision in the Independent Media Commission Act mandating all media houses to pay their workers above the government’s minimum wage, then set at Le 500 and to fulfill their NASSIT obligations.

“This move was necessary,” Kamara explained, “because many senior journalists retired without pensions or benefits. Their employers never paid NASSIT contributions during their years of service.”

In 2024, SLAJ engaged the Ministry of Labour on the Labour Laws and plans to hold nationwide sensitisation sessions with media employers. “It’s a crime not to pay journalists above the minimum wage or contribute to NASSIT,” he said.

He cited a case: “When we discovered that Melvin Tejan Mansaray’s employer wasn’t paying his NASSIT, we intervened and ensured his contributions were being paid.”

Kamara stressed that professionalism in journalism hinges on financial security. “It’s deeply unfair for a journalist to retire with nothing to show for years of service,” he said.

While SLAJ awaits further engagement with the Labour, IMC, and Information Ministries, Kamara raised concerns about employers paying staff via Afri-Money or Orange Money. “We haven’t received formal complaints yet, but it’s something we’re hearing. We’ll investigate and report to the IMC, which regulates media institutions,” he said.

He was firm on contract abuse: “You can’t keep someone for over two years and still call them a volunteer or fellow. That’s against Labour Laws. If you can’t pay them, let them go.”

Kamara also urged journalists to speak up. “We can’t act on hearsay. If you have a concern, report it with evidence. When we meet the IMC, we need facts to show which institutions are underpaying staff or failing to meet NASSIT obligations.”

He advised journalists to scrutinise their contracts. “Being a consultant is legal, but if you’re working as staff and your contract labels you a volunteer or fellow, ask questions.”

Kamara concluded with a call for transparency: “Media houses must clearly communicate employment status, whether temporary or permanent. We hold government and private officials to account, so let’s be accountable ourselves.”

SLRU’s Push for Reform

Yeanor Kabia, President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), shared similar concerns. “Before I became president, I faced these same issues. One of our campaign messages was improving journalist welfare; it was the top concern reporters raised.”

 

She said SLRU has engaged the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and is awaiting feedback. “We know reporters who’ve worked one to two years, often harder than full staff, but are still labelled volunteers, freelancers, or fellows.”

Kabia revealed that once SLRU secures its bargaining certificate by December, “we’ll work with journalists who are also lawyers to visit media houses, review employment lists, and warn employers to either uplift their reporters or let them go.”

She urged media houses to comply with Employment Laws and the NASSIT Act. “You can’t multi-task reporters and ignore their NASSIT. We’re inspecting that closely.”

Despite progress, Kabia acknowledged internal challenges. “Some reporters disclose these issues but later refuse to cooperate with investigations, for fear of losing their jobs.”

SLAJ & SLRU’s Warning

“We are the people who hold government and private officials to account, so let’s be accountable,” Kamara reiterated.

Kabia added a stark statistic: “About 90% of media houses don’t pay NASSIT contributions for their reporters.” She urged full compliance with employment and social security laws. “If not, we’ll ensure defaulters are held accountable, through the IMC and SLAJ.”