By Saio Marrah
The Team Leader, Governance and Civil Society of the European Delegation (EU), Serena Bertaina has called on Parliamentarians and Journalists to work collaboratively in deepening the country’s democracy.
She said this at a Parliament and Press Gallery Engagement Forum, in which journalists were trained at the house of parliament on Wednesday 31st August 2022.
Bertaina said: “This is based on the precognition that the media does play a very significant role in any democratic dispensation as a key medium for information dissemination and involving citizens in public discourse, especially on critical issues on law-making and budget oversight functions discharged by parliamentarians.”
She said this is also due to the fact that parliament has the duty to be transparent and fully accountable to its citizens.
For this, she said: “It is paramount that the media have access to the institution and be informed about their work in order to be effective in holding duty bearers accountable.”
Bertaina said the conception of the training was based on the recognition that parliament and the media share a common goal (which is seeking to deepen and consolidate democracy in Sierra Leone, and shared responsibility in promoting good governance and social cohesion.
On the role of social cohesion, she challenged the mainstream media to fight for audience and resources now more than ever before. This she said is taking into consideration, that the number of news content providers has grown exponentially.
She stated that “scoop” might lead some to ignore some of the most fundamental principles of journalism like the verification of stories and strong gatekeeping.
For this, she said it is incumbent on the media to act responsibly and in the interest of democracy, remaining non-partisan, refuting prejudice, and refraining from being used to promote discord.
The Director General of Parliament, Finda Fraser said parliament recognises the important role journalists play in the day-to-day reporting of activities of the legislature.
“Inevitably there will be some tension between parliamentarians and the media, given the different purposes and culture of the two progressions. Yet they both need each other, and have everything to gain from seeking to collaborate in the ways in which parliament is presented to the public’’, she noted.
The Interim President of the press gallery, Rev. Vincent Joseph Momoh, in his statement, spoke for a Memorandum of Understanding with parliament, which will ensure a working relationship and collaboration between the two parties, capacitate journalists, and provide them with opportunities to cover parliamentary proceedings in the sub-region.
He also called for the provision of an equipped office space for journalists, and for the administration of parliament, and donor partners including the EU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to provide scholarship opportunities to members of the press gallery.
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