Statement at the launch of The Guild of Newspaper Editors, Bo, Southern Sierra Leone

October 8, 2010 – H.E The Executive Representative of the UN Secretary-General Michael Schulenburg, Chairman Independent Media Commission Mrs Bernadette Cole, newly-elected Chairman of the Guild Kelvin Lewis, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Information and Communication, distinguished newspaper editors, other distinguished ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon.

It is indeed an honour for me to be a part of the remaking of history with the revival and launch today of The Guild of Newspaper Editors. My Executive is grateful. It is a moment that should make my work much easier as President of SLAJ. This is because for nearly two years, even if it has been enjoyable, the workload has made me grow grey hair, I have lost some weight, I have deprived my self of badly-needed sleep and rest, I have deprived my family of my time and my resources, all for the sake of journalists and journalism in the country.

In that time, my colleagues and I have led a struggle and campaign that has included for the freedom and rights of journalists and their welfare. Those affected have included editors, a good number of whom are living under very reduced circumstances and some without clearly spelt-out contract and conditions for service.

The newspaper world all over the world is going through tough times. Some even in advanced economies have been forced to lay off some of their staff and even circulate free of cost, especially following the global economic meltdown. I appreciate the fact that the Guild of Newspaper Editors is not necessarily for media owners, even if they make up a good percentage thereof. A good number of you are employees. SLAJ will be interested in engaging you on how to address the issue of the welfare of editors just as we did in May last year during a media owners’ workshop aimed at reviewing the pay and conditions of journalists.

Equally crucial is how and what editors should and shouldn’t publish. I have said it before and will say it here again, that if you newspaper editors, and maybe all of us together, do not stick to the values and ethics of journalism, we will be responsible for an outbreak of civil unrest in our country which has already had more than its fair share of turbulence. We have to appreciate the fact that journalism is not just any other profession. It is the best in the world. For example, while lawyers are taught to represent their client no matter what the allegations and facts are against them, journalists are taught to stand by the fact and where they can ascertain, to be prepared to die for the truth. This explains why there will be no need for lawyers in heaven because there will be no crime. There will be no need for an army in heaven, because there will be no war. There will be no need for peacekeepers in heaven because peace will be assured. Doctors and nurses will not be needed because no-one will fall ill. Teachers, bankers, accountants, auditors, will all not be needed. But God will need people to pass on information, so journalists will be needed in heaven.

This is why as editors you should shed off your political bias, where they exist, both in reporting on politics and in anything at all. You must publish in the interest of society and not necessarily in the interest of politicians. You must publish for the sake of your conscience and the profession and not for businesspeople even if we need them. Oil, iron ore, diamond and all other mining companies for that matter, do not come to a country to necessarily develop it. They come for one thing and one thing ONLY: to make a profit. Plain and simple! It behoves Governments to ensure these companies comply with the right things in the interest of the country. It behoves journalists to do a thorough job of exposing the ills of such companies and contracts and do not allow yourselves to be enmeshed in their skulduggery by their money.

Disagreements between editors on the pages of newspapers are so galling and virulent sometimes that we all bow our heads in shame. This must change. And no body or organisation can ensure this more than those of you who sometimes engage in these Press Wars as we call them. Not even the Independent Media Commission which has statutory powers to withdraw licences from media houses from operating should the necessity exist. The Guild, once its members rise up to the occasion, and I am very confident they will, will serve as one of the best ways of easing the pressure on the IMC and on us the unionists at SLAJ.

One way to ensure this, I would think, is to set standards in more ways than just saying so. Let me use the African Union/European Union analogy. Membership into the AU is automatic for all independent African countries for as long as they desire to join. The EU is a community of nations which meet clearly set-out standards that are very high. I think the Guild should go the EU way. Set standards for your members to rescue the public perception of the print media which is very negative, surveys have proved.

The issue of who an editor should be is something The Guild should consider. Whatever qualification you agree on, be it academic or long years of experience, it is up to you. But there should be certain standards.

I have always said so and I strongly believe in it, that the problem with journalists and journalism in our country has more to do with some of our editors than the young and upcoming reporters. The Editor, not the reporter, allows falsehood to be published. The buck stops with him or her.

Let me close by assuring that The Guild has the fullest support of SLAJ. We see The Guild as a complimenting not a competing body of senior journalists to SLAJ. We hope we can work together in the interest of journalists and journalism and by extension our ordinary compatriots. Treat your reporters with respect not with scorn, for they will grow up to become editors tomorrow.

I thank all those who have made this day possible, especially the ERSG, Mr Schulenburg. I vividly remember the passion and clairvoyance he showed when we first discussed the need for the revival of The Guild and later a discussion with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Let us all hope and indeed pray that The Guild works, that The Guild stays and that The Guild flourishes.

I thank you.

By Umaru Fofana, PRESIDENT, SLAJ

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