Journalist Jallah Grayfield, Station Manager and News Director of the Love Media Incorporated was summarily dismissed. The management stated in the dismissal letter dated December 17th 2013 that he had committed “gross insubordination”, but he says that his criticism of labour practices contributed to his dismissal.
Journalist Jallah Grayfield, Station Manager and News Director of the Love Media Incorporated, formerly Sarafina Ventures Incorporated, has been summarily dismissed. The management stated in the dismissal letter dated December 17th 2013 that he had committed “gross insubordination” towards the Chief Executive of the station Ms. Terla Urey, daughter of Mr. Benoni Urey, who is the owner of the station.
The letter failed to say in clear terms what actions had constituted the offense.
Meanwhile, Grayfield who is also the vice president-elect of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has sharply reacted to the dismissal letter saying contrary to the reason stated by management for his dismissal, there have actually been efforts and instances to coerce him and control news content.
Grayfield told the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) that, of late, the management of the Love Media Incorporated had engaged in a very bad labor practice which he has questioned. “As I speak to you, my two months salaries are being held for no tangible reason. I spoke strongly against such act. My criticism against management about bad labor practice at the station also contributed to my dismissal.”
The CEMESP strongly condemns such attitudes and has called on the management to act within the confines of the law and the organizational policy that relates to dismissal.
