By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) Sierra Leone has in a bid to ensure credible election reporting, engaged journalists, civil society activists, and security personnel to review the elections guidelines produced in consultation with other media stakeholders.
The guidelines make provision for fair, adequate, and equitable media coverage of the activities of political parties in Sierra Leone and offer a fair opportunity to all political parties and candidates to access the media responsibly in presenting their manifestos to the public.
Speaking at the launch of the opening session of the engagement held on Tuesday 5th July 2022 in Freetown, Ransford Wright head of the Independent Radio Network, an institution through which all election-related activities in the country are simulcast to other member radio stations across the country, said that after the 2018 elections, the Elections Observation mission made a number of recommendations in relation to media reportage on the elections for which he said the IMC was tasked to look into the recommendations and do the needful.
He noted the increase in social media use which poses a potential risk to the peace and stability of the country as misinformation and disinformation continue to rise, making it difficult to substantiate facts from opinion or falsehood. Therefore he said developing such guidelines ahead of the 2023 elections is very important.
He commended the IMC for making the process consultative so that the outcome is accepted by all at the end of the day.
In his statement, the Chairman Guild of Newspaper Editors, Donald Theophilius Harding noted that the role of the media in elections reporting includes but is not limited to public education. He said the media is critically placed when you talk about elections because the journalists start the journey and have to be there till it is declared over. However, he noted that the security of the journalist in executing such duty is very paramount and should be considered.
While stressing the need for a credible balanced and fair reportage on electoral activities, the IMC Chairman, Dr. Victor Massaquoi said that as a commission, they believe in consultation and participation to produce quality results in the end. He assured that whatever that will be agreed on at the engagement shall be reflected in the final document.
“I want to assure you that the media will be monitored for quality content and professionalism. The IMC will ensure that the interest of the public is protected and ensure the highest ethical standards,” he said.
He encouraged media owners to do the needful by complaining about the IMC Act which demands annual renewal of registration with the commission, saying that they will soon start taking action on defaulting institutions.
The Electoral Commission Sierra Leone in partnership with ECOWAS last month concluded the training of journalists and bloggers across Sierra Leone on election-related reporting techniques and ethics.
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