By Sheku Putka Kamara
Surely, time waits for no one. We are already in 2024 and if that is to suggest anything, we all should brace up and do things that just have to be done. And yes, with the manner in which death mow knocks at doors, anything could happen at any time. In all of this, I here submit that putting God first matters a whole lot and so depending on who you talk to, the Creator of the Universe deserves every form of Worship, Praise, Adoration and Appreciation.
On media, we ended 2023 with resounding success as far as the Expo media is concerned. We now have our website running and with our magazine and newspaper, we are not stopping anytime soon. As times pass by, the goal is to expand and reach out to more people and situations. At Expo, we believe in accuracy and clarity. We are convinced that journalism of human interest should be a priority and that making sure that societal ills are corrected is one of our prime goals.
We are a team of brilliant and able newsmen that have learnt the essentials. Gladly, we have also created room to train students and new/fresh grads about the dos of the game. In Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, PhD, we have a trained, schooled, qualified and accomplished media scholar that is able, willing and ready to shape and reshape the media landscape and that we are a part of his media fraternity, we are more than honoured, privileged and opportune to be a part of this strategic change-making drive and mentality.
As we all progress in life, I feel that it is vital for us to be sharing some of our life’s lessons. Today, a good number of people are kind of compelled to appreciating what some of us do in and outside the media. Well, whiles that is fine and good enough, it will interest many others to note and see that just over fifteen (15) years ago, I was that small pupil at the St. Joseph School in Lungi, who sat to the BECE in 2007 and moved over to St. Augustine, Lungi in 2008. In all of those times, never did I forecast that I will be a media man, not to mention being a Lecturer. I was interested in music and sports though. On the airwaves, I was known as ‘Sheku P in Lungi.’
If the above lines are to suggest anything to you, it is to reaffirm that you do not have a reason to give. With God, things can happen. Just put in the hard work. The media space in Siera Leone is big enough and a whole lot of untapped areas still exist. I will just urge that we all continue to make some efforts in ensuring that we allow the people and facts to speak for themselves. That is a way to go!
Whiles calls for editorial independence may have fell on deaf ears largely as a result of the media’s political economy, we must not let go of the duty to self and the duty to society. When I preach about rights and wrongs, I am optimistic that we can deduce individualistic as well as collective standpoints.
We should equally be reminded that problems do exist, but like always, we are to know and note that the ability to understand them truly matters as that is the first point of attempting to solving same.
On media professionalism, each time I talk about editing and managing, I am inclined to argue that the two roles vary and that not all managers or owners could be editors. That is not to say that some of them cannot, or will not edit, but then, I am urging for realistic discussions in so far as the topic is concerned. The readership keeps growing and so it is on that note that we all make reasonable efforts to go for quality agenda-setting. This is important because the moment the headline is faulty for example, that could be a turnoff point for a good number of people, if not all persons.
As we navigate through 2024, let us be reminded that Sierra Leone should be placed above all else and so whatever aids in making this country a better place should be given the highest consideration. We should be able to urge and remind people in leadership that they have a duty to rightly serve and that we would hold them accountable just if they all wish to toe some unwelcomed paths. That is a way to go and yes, we should keep going!
From all of us at Expo, blessed 2024 and certainly, stay with us for the best of authoritative, investigative, narrative and thought-provoking publications because, WE ARE HERE FOR YOU AND YOURS!
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Sunday, January 7th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)