SLAJ ends one day public lecture in Kenema

The Sierra Leone Associating of Journalists (SLAJ), Eastern Region, has concluded a one day public lecture for Journalists on the theme, “Media ethics and the law” at the Luawa Resort Hotel in Kenema.

In his opening remarks, the newly elected Eastern Regional Chairman Mr. Bob Batilo Saffa welcomed and thanked the participants for attending the lecture organized by the executive.

He explained that the lecture was neither funded by SLAJ nor any partner but by the Acting Principal Magistrate of the Kenema Magistrate Court, Magistrate Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens and some other like-minded individuals, and organized by the Eastern Regional Organizing Secretary, Mr. Ibrahim K. Musa and Eastern regional Secretary General.

Giving a brief background on Journalism in the Eastern Region,a Lecturer at the Mass Communications Department at the Eastern Polytechnic, Mr. Sahr Amara Brima commended veteran journalists like Tahib Bah, Paul K. Joseph, Moses Yajo and Bob Batilo Saffa amongst others for their leading role in the genesis of the profession in the region.

He said the aforementioned persons under very difficult circumstances promulgated the need for Journalism and Journalists in the region. He called Journalists to always observe the ethical values of the profession which he described is an envy to many the world over.

Magistrate Alhaji Mohamed Momoh Jah Steven disclosed that Section 25 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone makes provision for freedom of expression, thus the establishment of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists.

He however cautioned that even though people have the right to express themselves freely and without hindrance, this freedom carries a corresponding responsibility to it, citing Sections 26 and 27 which deal with seditious and defamatory libel as checks to the reckless use free expression.

He opined that until such clauses in the constitution are either repealed or expunged from the law books of Sierra Leone, Journalists must tread cautiously in the discharge of their duties to avoid any infraction of the law.

Magistrate Steven described Journalism as a noble profession, stressing that Journalists must always strive to be independent, apolitical, fair, neutral, unbiased, to make them the watch dogs of society.

He called on Journalists to remain united in the pursuit of their aims and objectives of gathering and disseminating information to wider a populace as mandated by law.

At the end of the training, a certificate of recognition from the SLAJ executive in the Eastern Region was presented to Magistrate Alhaji Mohamed Momoh Jah Steven by the national Vice President of SLAJ, Mr. Stanley Bangura Jr.

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!