By Amara Thoronka
Khalil Kallon, IMC’s Executive Secretary
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) has imposed a cumulative forty-six thousand New Leone (equivalence of 46 million Old Leones) on Justice Radio, FM 98.5, Forum Newspaper and Africa 24 Newspaper.
This is according to a press release signed by Khalil Kallon, IMC’s executive secretary, issued after the media regulatory body had arbitrated and ruled on complaints made against the said media.
“The Independent Media Commission (IMC) has concluded its investigations, deliberations and rulings on three publications and broadcast of smear campaign cases involving Justice Radio, FM 98.5, Forum Newspaper and Africa 24 Newspaper. The rulings, based on the complaints filed by Her Worship, the Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, and Mr. Anthony M.B Aruna respectively, underscore the importance of ethical journalism and responsible reporting,” the press release stated.
Landing judgement on the complaint filed against Justice Radio, IMC asserted that Justice Radio’s evidence failed to substantiate the claims made in the broadcast.
“The Committee [IMC’s Complaint Committee] noted that the broadcasts were malicious and intended to tarnish the Mayor’s image. Despite claims of attempting to contact the Mayor for her side, the Committee observed insufficient effort in obtaining her perspective. The Commission fined Justice Radio Le 20,000 (Twenty Thousand New Leones) in accordance with Regulation 19(1) (2) of the IMC (Print and Electronic Media) Regulations, 2022 for the broadcast of smear campaign stories,” the release explained.
On complaint against Africa 24 Newspaper filed by Mr. Anthony M.B Aruna in respect of an articles published on June 7 and 21, 2023, alleging property grabbing and falsehoods, the IMC disclosed that it conducted two hearings, during which the newspaper defended its reporting.
“The IMC established that Africa 24 Newspaper failed to make reasonable efforts to cross-check the story with Mr. Aruna before publication. The journalist did not submit evidence to substantiate the story, while Mr. Aruna provided documents supporting his ownership of the property. The Commission levied a fine of Le 3,000.00 (Three Thousand New Leone) for breaching the accuracy principle, and a fine of Le 10,000 (ten thousand New Leones) in line with Regulation 19(1) and (2) of the IMC (Print and Electronic Media Regulations, 2022) for the publication of smear campaign stories. The total fine is to be paid within 30 days, and the media institution was ordered to publish a retraction of the story with equal prominence in its next edition immediately upon receipt of this ruling,” the release adjudicated.
Mr. Anthony M.B Aruna did not only filed a complaint against African 24 Newspaper. He also filed a complaint against Forum Newspaper for a publication on July 21, 2023, titled: “OVER HS 19 FRAUDULENT OWNERSHIP…ACC MAY INDICT IMPOSTER.”
The Commission said it observed that Forum Newspaper failed to make reasonable efforts to cross-check the story with Mr. Aruna before publishing, adding that there was lack of evidence to substantiate the allegations in the publication.
“The Commission imposed a fine of Le 3,000.00 (Three Thousand Leones) on the newspaper for the breach of the accuracy principle, and a fine of Le 10,000 (Ten Thousand Leones) levied in line with Regulation 19(1) and (2) of the IMC (Print and Electronic Media Regulations, 2022) payable within 30 days, and the media institution was ordered to publish a retraction of the publication with equal prominence in its next edition immediately upon receipt of the ruling,” IMC concluded.
The Independent Media Commission is the media regulatory public institution that regulates the conducts and operations of media houses in Sierra Leone.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Monday, march 18th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
