Training of Radio Technicians – Eastern and Southern Regions
As part of a series of training outlined in the approved work plan for 2011, the Independent Media Commission (IMC) with funds from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a three day training in Bo for radio technicians from the Southern and Eastern regions between July 27th to 29th 2011.
At a well attended opening ceremony, Mrs. Bernadette Cole declared that it was the first time in five years that 19 radio technicians have been assembled to receive training from the Independent Media Commission ahead of the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
She spoke of the content of the training and enjoined participants to pay great attention to what was being taught.
Mrs. Bernadette Cole also used the occasion to set the records straight by describing herself as the outgoing Chairperson of the Commission considering the fact that her tenure had ended and a new Chairperson had been named by the President and would soon face Parliament for approval.
The opening ceremony was chaired by Commissioner Cassandra Davies and speeches were made by representatives from NATCOM, Civil Society Network and the Office of the Resident Minister South. They all realized and appreciated the effort the Commission has made in regulating and promoting the media in Sierra Leone.
The facilitators of the programme included Commissioner Cassandra Davies, Commissioner Francis Davies and Mr. Andrew Kromah, Consultant for Media Peace Foundation. Modules covered included overview of requirement for setting up radio stations; role of regulatory bodies i.e. NATCOM and IMC, role and responsibilities of radio station technicians and training on electric power source among others.
Following the completion of the training and certification of all 19 participants by Mrs Bernadette Cole, a team of commissioners led by Commissioner Francis L Davies visited all the radio stations in Bo for inspection and corrective action where necessary.
The training programme will be replicated in the northern and western regions over the next two weeks as part of the Commission’s plan to intensify training for all levels of media personnel ahead of the 2012 elections.
A Complaint Committee meeting was also held at the Commission’s regional office in Bo which was described by the Committee’s Chairman, Mr. Christo Johnson as the 2nd Complaint Committee meeting to be held in the Southern region this year.
The committee dealt with two separate but interrelated cases between Dr. Joseph Musa of Bo Government Hospital and Gbessay Juldeh of the Standard Times Newspaper/Star Radio.
Dr. Musa’s complaint was that Standard Times newspaper referred to him as a ‘fake doctor, in an article authored by Mr. Juldeh Gbessay; while Gbessay complained that the doctor used abusive language on him when he went to the hospital to interview him. The Complaint Committee arbitrated the matter and came out with the following conclusions:-
- The journalist did not adequately cross-check his facts before publication as Dr. Joseph Musa presented a valid practicing license from the Medical and Dental Council of Sierra Leone which certified him as a qualified medical officer and the right to practice. The journalist was in breach of Article 1 of the Media Code of Practice which states that ‘newspapers and periodicals must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted materials including pictures. They must make all reasonable efforts to check and cross-check the accuracy of stories prior to publication’.
- Dr. Musa on the other hand accepted that he used abusive language on the journalist and was warned against such act. He was cautioned to take necessary steps to give journalists something that they can attribute whenever, he is approached on any matter involving public interest rather than shouting or throw abusive words at them.
The Board accepted the findings of the Complaints Committee and warned Dr. Joseph Musa and other members of the public to be cooperative and accommodating whenever they are approached by journalists on any matter involving public interest.
The journalist, Mr. Gbesay Juldeh as well as other journalists are also warned to be courteous and polite whenever they approach the members of the public for an interview.
The three day activity ended with the Independent Media Commission’s regular Monthly Board Meeting at the Bo Regional Office, 341 Bo-Taiama Highway, Bo.
J.P.K. Lamin
For and on behalf of the Chairperson and Commissioners
IMC, Freetown
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