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IMC - Statutory Media Regulator

The Independent Media Commission Act, 2000. Being an Act to establish an autonomous body for the regulation of mass media Institutions and for other matters connected therewith.

ENACTED by the President and members of Parliament in this present Parliament assembled.

WHAT WE DO

Enforce Compliance

Ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it;

Commission Objectives

Do all such things as may contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the
Commission.

ESTABLISHMENT OF LICENCE CATEGORIES

Establish categories of licences and grant such licences to electronic media institutions in Sierra Leone.

Fair Coverage

Ensure that every person shall have, irrespective of that person’s race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status, access to fair coverage in the broadcast media.

PRESCRIBE BROADCAST HOURS

Prescribe minimum percentage of total broadcast hours to be devoted to public service programmes by various types and categories of electronic media institutions.

Advise Minister

Advise the Minster on media policy formulation and development.

MAINTAIN MEDIA INSTITUTIONS

Maintain a register of media institutions, newspapers and magazines published in Sierra Leone.

Media Ownership

Establish clear limits on media ownership, including cross-media ownership in the interest of diversity.

Code of Practice

Compile and adopt a comprehensive media Code of Practice, in consultation with SLAJ, and any other media practitioners’ association, and to monitor the implementation of that Code throughout Sierra Leone.

JOSEPH EGBENDA KAPUWA ESQ

THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION CHAIRMAN

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN

The 21^st century along with its own relatively matchless DNA – increased Social Media usage, amplified Disinformation and augmented Misinformation – inherent in that DNA. Central to the contemporary political mixture across the globe, and in Sierra Leone, in particular, is media heterogeneity, free speech and public protection from media extortion and harassment. And, so, as we rebrand the IMC to meet the existing and evolving challenges, and shrewdly manage the successes and changes, and in line with our 2020 Act, we continue to strategically reposition the IMC by aggressively monitoring the media space, gently but robustly generating free-speech friendly regulations, developing the capacity of the IMC staff and by extension, media practitioners and vigorously mobilizing resources for sustainability.

The IMC, in a novel but productive way, will continue to:

Conduct nationwide popularization of key provisions in the 2020 Act
Popularize the 2022 revised Media Code of Practice
Develop the capacity of the IMC staff and media practitioners on Elections Reporting Guidelines, in readiness for 2023
Promote good journalism in line with international best practice

We thank you for your support, partnership and ideas. The IMC is here for you!