By Abass Jalloh
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has launched its Golden Jubilee Journalism Welfare Fund (JWF) to provide for the welfare and safety of journalists in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the ceremony on Monday 14th February at the Harry Yansaneh Memorial Hall at SLAJ headquarters the President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said he felt privileged to cater for journalists since last year, adding that freedom of expression and of the press was an important aspect of democracy and that the fund would seek for opportunities to train and build the professional capacity of journalists.
He said SLAJ has spent all of its “energy and resources” to promote and protect free speech and free media and to defend journalists against abuse by State authorities adding that the membership of the association now stands at about 800 from across the country. ”Today, we are adding a new and important chapter [SLAJ Golden Jubilee Journalism Welfare Fund],” he declared. “It is something we have been working on for the last two years, and thank God this activity is happening right now.”
“The survival of journalism depends on welfare,” he stated, adding that funds are tied to specific projects. “In Sierra Leone, it is difficult with external challenges. We need independence and welfare to manage the association.”
“There is also the department of independent journalism and investigative reporting,” he added.
The president said when he decided to contest for the presidency in SLAJ, the first thing he did across the country was to ask what kind of leadership the journalists wanted. He said a majority said “welfare and welfare”. “So without even knowing how I would address that, I decided to put it in my manifesto as an action point, and I was honest and sincere…that I would not be able to solve the welfare of journalists, but I would be conscious to seek the welfare of journalists across the country.”
He went on: “The welfare fund seeks to address journalists covering emergency situations and the likelihood for them as frontline runners to get injured physically or psychologically in the process.”
In his keynote address, the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi said “We [the UN] will continue in this engagement, and we want to be partners”. He described the fund as ‘critical in a fledgling democracy like Sierra Leone.’ Saying it would require the active participation of every citizen.
He added that having understood the role of the media - informing and educating, the media must help to stage “high editorial independence” because, according to him, journalists are highly vulnerable.
The Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, assured that his bank believes in national aspirations tied to development. “Let us make Sierra Leone together,” he pleaded.
Dr. Gilpin said that poverty and unprofessional journalism have been the key factors disturbing the media. “If journalists are poor, there is bad journalism,” he pointed out. “We need a turnaround in Sierra Leone by noting the impact of what you do, representing yourself, the newspaper, and your country.”
In a virtual presentation from Bournemouth University (BU) in the United Kingdom, Dr. Chindu Sreedharan of the Faculty of Media and Communication highlighted the factors that underpin the mission of journalism noting that the partnership between Sierra Leone and the Bournemouth University will create room for the exchange of knowledge about critical aspects including ethical journalism.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (16/02/22)
