By Sulaiman Jalloh
During a panel discussion at the American Shelf, Fourah Bay College campus on the day marking international World Press Freedom Day, (May 3, 2024), the United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Bryn Hunt has informed journalists that democracy is a journey.
Amadu Lamrana Bah who moderated the panel in his introductory statement recalled how he grew up even before being a journalist, saying that before now, on the celebration of international World press Freedom Day, Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act used to be a thorn more so because issues of libel and defamation were very crucial. He said however that the repeal is a step in the right direction.
Amb. Hunt said that democracy is a journey and it will only work if there is an informed society and a media that operates separately and independently, noting, journalists should report without being harassed, jailed and intimidated whiles encouraging journalists also to be objective. “Journalism is about intelligence and civilised public discuss and must be responsible” he narrated. He added that a journalist is looking for both and exposes both and reports just the facts.
Deputy minister of information and civic education, Bockarie Abdel Aziz Bawoh emphasized that journalists make democracy and good governance to thrive, adding that there will be no good governance without press freedom. “As a government, we cannot strive without the Journalists” he noted, stressing that the government of President Bio is committed to protect the right of journalists.
SLAJ president, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said that the only security to journalists is press freedom, pointing out that the work of a journalist is to provide information and educate the public about governance, among other things. He noted that journalism is a profession just as politics, but stated that ownership and political affiliation undermine press freedom.
Eastina Taylor, WIMSAL President pointed out that a nation is as strong as its journalists. “Democracy has a context behind it. Journalists must practice without interference,” she noted, adding that a healthy democracy should have the freedom to report on diverse issues.
Taylor said that journalists must be able to investigate and ask important questions and not to be lazy by just reporting the surface of a story.
The panel discussion was focused on press freedom and its importance to democracy.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO’s General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek has been celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Friday, May 6TH, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
