The Star newspaper is faced with a cr**** after the exit of journalists that has left its business desk nearly empty.
Two business reporters – Richard Mungai and Martin Mwita – have resigned over the past one month in unclear cir****tances and it is understood that even the acting business editor Constant Munda is on his way out.
Insiders at Radio Africa Group say Munda, w** has been acting for eight months now, after the exit of Lola Okulo in October last year, is serving notice and w*** be out soon.
The exodus appears to be a protest against management which, it is said, has been micromanaging the desk and giving them “unrealistic targets” on delivery of stories.
The desk is running with a business editor managing interns. When Munda leaves, the desk w*** virtually be empty.
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Munda could be frustrated by acting for too long wit**ut substantive powers and job description, while the reporters felt a vacuum on the desk which had led to ego ******.
“And then there was too much pressure and micromanagement,” said a Star journalist w** has been closely following events on the business desk at Lion Place. “The top editors and management are always on their necks for big stories.”
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The Star newspaper has been shaky over the past one year due to falling circulation and ad revenues. It was forced to sack a good number of employees in February this year to stay afloat but that has not lifted revenues.
The newspaper is said to be surviving on the government newspaper insert, MyGov which is the only ***ured commercial in the Star these days.
There has been talk of the newspaper folding up after the next elections to let the group focus on digital and radio.
[crp]
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