Forum on media development ends

The Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Wednesday 25^th officially unlocked discussions on the topic ‘media and development in post conflict reconstruction’ at the Miatta Conference in Freetown.

The meeting brought together politicians, parliamentarians, media owners (broadcast, prints, online and community journalists) and academics from respective communities, towns and cities to discuss and share views and experiences on issues of development.

It discussed the numerous problems faced by the media in Sierra Leone.

Suggestions as to how Government and its people go about addressing such problems were core among issues looked at.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Umaru Fofanah noted however that upright citizens and companies will certainly invest in the media if the laws referred to as ‘draconian’ are expunged from the Sierra Leone law books, and the Freedom of Information Bill which now gathers dust in drawers enacted without any delay.

Speakers representing respective offices including the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, the Acting Director of Communication and Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat Manoah Esipisu, and a member of the Rwandan Government Advisory Council Alphonse Nkusi all emphasized on the need to have a media that is developmentally oriented.

In one of the plenary discussions, the slogan ‘attack collect, defend collect;’ a phrase used by journalists in their pursuit to preach unethical journalism, was observed and described as completely unprincipled.

It was recommended that both SLAJ and the Independent Media Commission put a halt to such.

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