This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Kenya's second-largest newspaper publisher, Standard Group, has sparked a revolt among its employees by withdrawing complimentary newspapers. The move, which took effect on October 1, 2019, has left many staff members without access to the free paper.
According to a memo issued by the company's Human Resources Director, Nicholas Siwatom, the complimentary newspaper will now be available in digital format, but staff will be required to pay Ksh30 daily for access. The decision has been met with resistance from staff, who rely on the free paper for self-assessment and to stay up-to-date with industry trends.
Standard journalists are now forced to share the few available copies in meetings, a move that has been likened to People Daily's decision to withdraw free newspapers for senior journalists and editors. The Standard's e-paper, which was relaunched in August, has not seen a significant increase in uptake, with returns as high as 40% on weekdays.
From a business perspective, the move could boost circulation by a few hundred copies among the company's over 500 employees. However, journalists are not big fans of buying newspapers, and the decision has sparked tension and revolt among staff.
As reported by Business Today on October 3, 2019, the Standard has also withdrawn supply of free copies of the Daily Nation, Star, and Business Daily.
