Journalists do not earn the wages they deserve: MP Nasheed

Former Minister of Information Mohamed Nasheed has said that journalists in the Maldives are under appreciated and underpaid and that they do not get the wages that they deserve.

Speaking at DhiTV’s Khabaruthereyn program last night, the MP for Kulhudhuffushi-south constituency said that journalists have always been underappreciated through out the history of Maldives, and that their rights and efforts to develop have been neglected.

“…in the long history of Maldives, the value of journalists has not really been recognized. They have not really been appreciated. Not enough efforts have been made for their development. Their rightful place has not been granted,” MP Nasheed said.

He said that an atmosphere to take up journalism as a career has not been fostered in the Maldivian society, and that the journalists enter the profession largely based on a genuine interest for field, rather as a field that allows them to earn a living.

“…majority are people who do it based on their interest, rather than as a means to earn a living, because they don’t get the resources. It also depends on the media environment, the job opportunities are very narrow. The media is being controlled by certain ideologies. What remains is the State media who also have their own problems. What I am trying to say is, the wages for journalists are not right, and I do not believe that it is adequate to make a living,” Nasheed said.

Nasheed said that the subject of wages and other benefits for journalists is a subject that needs to be heard, especially when we talk about freedom of media and democracy. He said that freedom of the media can only be maintained by encouraging people to take up the profession and live in the profession.

“…in reflection of the delicateness and specialty of the profession, the wages and other financial benefits they earn have to be talked about when we talk about democracy and when we talk about the freedom of the media. Because the freedom of media can only be maintained by people who live in that profession, yes?” Nasheed said.