Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Union Association of Journalists of Cape Verde (AJOC) welcomed, this Monday, the release of the amount of 7,313,716 escudos to pay incentives to 22 community, regional and national radio stations. To Organs contemplated bodies, he asked for the improvement of the working conditions and salary of their professionals.
“It is with great satisfaction that the Union Association of Journalists of Cape Verde (AJOC) learned today of the Government’s decision to unlock more than 7,313,716 escudos for payment of incentives to 22 community, regional and national radio stations”, recognized the president of the AJOC, in a press release released this Monday, January 2nd.
Geremias Furtado congratulated the Government of Cape Verde for, as he said, fulfilling “part of what was promised to the private media, who so badly need this vital incentive for the free exercise of their activity”.
“Good use”
To the radios, he appealed to the “good use” of the funds made available, so that they can result in the improvement of working conditions and wages for journalists.
“We hope that, regardless of the value that each one receives, employers will be able to fulfill their part in terms of creating better conditions for media professionals”, he advocated.
Prevent doors from closing
Furtado believes that this “little hand” from the Government will prevent many private bodies from closing their doors due to lack of funding, which would represent, as he said, “a major setback” in the quality of democracy and pluralism of opinion.
However, more than making funds available, he urges the State to create conditions in the market, which, according to him, is weak from an advertising point of view, so that companies develop their businesses, also improving regulation and the attribution of incentives .
“As an example, we recall here the possibility raised by the Government in 2019 of granting private media the status of public utility and exempting them from paying VAT, allowing them to invest the amount collected in hiring journalists, in technological modernization , among others”, he indicated.
Alongside the private bodies, the president of AJOC challenges the Government to “leave the short term” and move forward, in fact, with the signing of the new concession contract between the State and Rádio Televisão Cabo-verdeana (RTC), as well as the approval of the Positions, Careers and Salaries Plan (PCCS) of the Cape Verdean News Agency (Inforpress).
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