PRESS RELEASE
SLAJ PAYS COURTESY CALL ON IMC CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSIONERS
The president of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasrallah with his executive members Thursday 7th April 2022 paid a courtesy call on the Chairman Independent Media Commission, Dr. Victor Massaquoi and Commissioners of the IMC at the Commission’s Headquarters 54 Siaka Stevens Street Freetown.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, Ahmed Sahid Nasrallah said their being at the Commission is part of their commitment to show full solidarity to the new Chairman and Commissioners of the Independent Media Commission. He said the new Board of Commissioners is a true reflection of SLAJ, as the Association nominated (7) seven members including the Chairman. He noted that this is the first time since the formation of the IMC that all SLAJ nominees have been endorsed by the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone unhindered. Ahmed Sahid Nasrallah noted that the relationship between IMC, SLAJ and the Media before now lacked trust. Most media practitioners complained of intimidation by the then IMC Complaint Committee. He said SLAJ is complementing the efforts of the Commission in media regulation by constituting the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee and monitors to report on the activities of journalists.
He called on the Commission to review the Media Code of Practice on Elections Coverage and Reporting and enforce the payment of Journalists by media owners as enshrined in the IMC Act 2020. He concluded that, the Commission should not just accept renewal fees from media institutions but should rather go beyond and verify the authenticity of documents presented to the Commission for annual renewal.
The Chairman of the IMC Dr. Victor Massaquoi, thanked the president and his delegation and welcome them to the Commission. He assured the president of continuous work and collaboration between IMC and SLAJ. He said the “cry of SLAJ is the cry of IMC”. He expressed hopes that members of SLAJ would respect the IMC by complying with the IMC Act 2020, regulations and guidelines of the Commission; and compliance with registration and renewal processes and payment of fines imposed by the Commission on defaulters.
Speaking on the independence of the Commission, Dr Victor Massaquoi said since his assumption of office in February 2022, there had been no time where government had tried to influence him and the Commission in the discharge of their functions; noting that this is a clear indication that there is no political interference in the work of the Independent Media Commission. He spoke about 5 (five) Strategic Pillars that the Commission under his leadership wants to address with immediate effect: (a) to secure the validated Media Code of Practice on Print and Electronic Media for enactment; (b) review the guidelines on the coverage of political party activities and elections reporting; (c) work closely with SLAJ to train journalists and capacitate IMC staff with requisite technical and professional skills; (d) engage in Media Research and Media monitoring and to raise resources for the Commission.
