SECTOR 4 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions, including safety, for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. Journalist’s salaries in Swaziland are relatively low and benefits are limited. At the privately owned Times, entry salaries start at about E6,500 ($650) a month with editors earning from E17,000 ($1,700), although these figures are at the discretion of the editor. Salaries at the Observer tend to be lower, with some journalists starting out with as little as E4,000 ($400). The Nation’s entry level salary for a cub reporter fresh from university is about E6,000 ($600), while middle to senior staff will earn E10,000 ($1,000) and more. Salaries at the Independent start at E4,000 ($400). “There are gazetted salaries for media practitioners, and these start at E3,000 ($300), so private media companies use this as a benchmark.” Salaries at SBIS start at about E6,000 – E8,000 ($600 - $800) with editors earning between R10,000 and E15,000 ($1,000 and $1,500). Most of the SBIS staff are full-time employees, but the broadcaster also hires freelancers on renewable three-month contracts. Swazi TV salaries are significantly higher, with entry level journalists starting at E10,000 ($1,000). Working conditions at SBIS are considered to be poor as the journalists are treated as civil servants. “The profession of SBIS journalists is compromised, because their work is more about taking orders than working as professional journalists.” Working conditions at private media houses are not great, with irregular and long working hours. The Times appears to have some of the better working policies. The company provides transport home for those working late, within a 10km radius of Mbabane. It also provides medical aid and a funeral policy, and can assist with legal fees or advice if the issue is related to an article published by the newspaper. The newspaper also offers psychological support to journalists, at the discretion of the publisher. Safety policies for journalists are generally not known, although the Times, which owns its own printing press, has workman’s compensation for employees working on the press. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014 59