SECTOR 4 To put these numbers into perspective, basic accommodation can cost about 2,000 BWP (198 USD). A basic student room with an outside bathroom costs around 700 BWP (69 USD). Apart from government employees, the average salary in Botswana is 5,000 Pula (496 USD). Working conditions, especially in private media, are inadequate. The newsroom of a small business magazine was said to ‘not even have...one... single...car and yet reporters were expected to compete with their colleagues at other newsrooms.’ Even if there was a story that required journalists to go out at night, no transportation would be provided; journalists would have to organise themselves, put together money to pay for transport or borrow a friend’s car. The journalistic profession in Botswana suffers from lack of equipment, resources, funding and in-house guidance and training. ‘If these conditions are allowed to prevail, then the profession is in very serious trouble.’ ‘Conditions [are] slightly better within government.’ ‘Journalists at the state media receive benefits, such as pension, medical aid, insurance and funeral benefits. They have access to transport and a driver and are paid on time. Although general work conditions are better in state media houses, if you do something they don’t like, a journalist risks being transferred to another department.’ An example of this was provided about a non-conforming Journalist, Sakaeyo Jannie, who was transferred from the Department of Information Services to the Department of Gender Affairs, the then Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs. He fought against his demotion in court and was later reinstated by order of the High Court. In private media, journalists can lose their jobs without reason or justification. ‘A female Duma FM employee was kicked out for being pregnant and there was no redress for her. At another media house, two women journalists were retrenched while on maternity leave.’ ‘In December 2017, several Mmegi employees were retrenched because of the financial difficulties the paper was facing. At a big media house, you see someone going home with just one month’s salary after working there for more than 20 years.’ ‘Journalists are losing jobs every day, so they are worried about job security – so those who find themselves with a job consider themselves fortunate and will accept unacceptable work conditions and wages.’ Experienced media practitioners are overlooked during the hiring process because they are regarded as a costly investment for media organisations. 52 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018