SECTOR 4 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners, including their safety, are adequate. There is a lot of secrecy about salary levels within the media sector, and large discrepancies between commercial and community media salary levels. Entry level journalists to a commercial, daily newspaper can expect to start earning R12, 500 a month, including medical aid and a pension, while a young journalist on a community newspaper may earn R7, 000 without any benefits. An entry-level salary for a radio or television journalist is between R10, 000 and R15, 000. At commercial newspapers, there is generally no discrepancy in salaries between male and female employees, but a sense that salaries are negotiated on an individual basis. At smaller publications, such as the Mail & Guardian, salaries are generally lower than industry averages and staff do not get additional benefits. Salaries for SABC staff tend to be higher than in the private media. However, there are claims that there is no fairness in this regard. “Bosses don’t really look at what people are doing or their particular skills and experience, but on how long they have worked for the SABC, to determine their salary levels. This has caused dissatisfaction in the newsroom and the unions are trying to tackle the issue.” How people are hired at the SABC is another issue, and claims of nepotism abound. The working conditions at the SABC are considered to be fairly good, although there are possible security risks. For example, anyone can come through the security gates at the national broadcaster and there have been incidents of journalists being assaulted by such people. Also, there is no security for journalists working very late or starting work very early in the morning. “SABC journalists were previously sent to the UK to do hostile environment training, run by former Special Air Service (SAS) operatives. This no longer happens and perhaps the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) can look at doing this, as the working environment for journalists in South Africa is getting more dangerous, with increasingly violent protests.” The SABC does not offer its journalists trauma debriefing, although Independent Newspapers staff have access to a psychologist for this purpose. The community radio sector is particularly bad in terms of salary levels and working conditions. The sector is very reliant on volunteers, who are paid nothing or given ‘lunch money’, and not even transport money to get home after a latenight show. Full-time staff don’t have medical aid. Of the 120 community radio stations on air, only about 10 have their own vehicles and about 10 own their own buildings and have security. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2013 63