“I met the kitchen almost empty” says SLAJ-East chairman
The Regional Chairman-East of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Mr. Bob Batilo Saffa, who also doubles as the Director of Radio Maria east, during a one day training for over 30 journalists in the eastern region at the Lawua Resort Guest House, Whaman Abu Highway. Kenema, revealed to colleague journalists that he did not inherit a single cent from the out gone SLAJ-East chairman, neither did he collect any cents from the central body to capacitate members of the SLAJ family.
Mr. Saffa further stated that current executives did not receive any support from NGOs, Government or politicians but his hard work has resulted to the raising of funds to make this training a success. The Chairman further maintained that the theme of the workshop “Media Ethics and the Law” was aimed as a guide to educate and refresh the minds of journalists in that part of the country. He further maintained that at times public attack reportages are commonplace of colleague journalists and on that backdrop he decided to start this training which he promised will continue and guide journalists on their reporting skills. He also drew the attention of eastern region journalists to know that such programme will continue but journalists need to be committed to SLAJ, just as he urged the following SLAJ affiliated bodies like the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), Women in the Media (WIMSA) and SWASA.
The National Vice President of SLAJ, Mr. Stanley Bangura thanked SLAJ-East for this bold step in creating a self training exercise without the support of the SLAJ central body and politicians. He encouraged the chairman and executives to keep the ball rolling. He also advised SLAJ members to pay their dues and always be committed. He informed SLAJ members that there are numerous programmes coming up for journalists but those who are to benefit will be for SLAJ paid up members only.
The principal Resident Magistrate, Alhaji Momo Jah Stevens, was one of the facilitators who engaged journalists on media ethics and the law. During the presentation he said journalists have the constitutional right to report news but in an accurate, balanced and correlating manner to avoid public wrath.
By Kamal M. Barrie in Kenema
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