By William Madouk
The ongoing row between the management of City Review newspaper and its protesting journalists has intensified, with the management demanding an apology from the journalists over alleged defamation.
The dispute began when national journalists working for both City Review and Al-Hagiga newspapers went on strike over disparities in pay between local and expatriate staff.
The journalists claim that expatriate editorial staff earn up to $2,500 per month, including benefits like free accommodation, transport, air tickets, airtime, and meals, while the highest-paid local journalists receive less than $100 per month in local currency.
The journalists say they had previously notified the management in writing about the need for salary increases, but their requests were met with a bucket of intimidation instead.
In response, the company’s legal counsel, Leek Lual, issued a stern warning to the protesting journalists, demanding that they apologize for their ‘defamatory statements’ against the two companies or face legal action.
“That you are kindly asked to apologize to the companies and cease publication of baseless allegations against the companies with immediate effect. That this is a warning to you or else we will take legal action against you if you insist,” he added.
In a separate statement, City Review management has denied the allegations, terming them as misleading, wrong, and lacking evidence.
The management claims that the journalists’ demands for a 500% salary increase were made just a week before the management’s warning letter.
“The journalists also expressed that there is a gap between salaries of national reporters and those paid for expatriates, with claims that an expatriate in the editorial department earns up to 2500. The statement is highly exaggerated, misleading, wrong and lacks evidence,” it added.
In a quick rejoinder, the protesting journalists have stated that they will continue their protest until their demands are addressed, as the management’s letter did not address any of their concerns.
They also allege that they have been handed one-month suspension letters by security personnel, rather than the management itself, and that City Review management has deployed personnel around the company premises.