By Sulaiman Jalloh
Members of the parliamentary press gallery of the Parliament of Sierra Leone have benefited from a one-day capacity-building training on parliamentary reporting, on October 22, 2025, held under the theme enhancing parliamentary journalism for effective democratic Governance.
Delivering the keynote address, the clerk of parliament, Karmoh Conteh, reaffirmed Parliament’s long-standing collaboration with the media and emphasized its crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability, he encouraged journalists to familiarize themselves with parliamentary rules and procedures to ensure accuracy and credibility in their reporting.
Mr. Conteh commended President Julius Maada Bio for repealing part v of the 1965 Public Order Act, a significant step that he said has strengthened press freedom in Sierra Leone. He reminded journalists that while Parliament welcomes both positive and critical coverage, such reporting must be conducted responsibly, he also urged reporters to maintain professional dress codes during parliamentary sessions and announced plans to issue official identity cards to all accredited parliamentary journalists.
In his welcome address, deputy clerk of parliament, gilbert Bosco N’habay, expressed Parliament’s commitment to working closely with the media to promote openness and public trust, he underscored the importance of factual and balanced coverage of parliamentary proceedings, noting that journalists are key partners in sustaining Sierra Leone’s democratic governance.
Interim president of the parliamentary press gallery, Feima Sesay, thanked the leadership of parliament for its continued support to the press. She highlighted the progress made under her tenure and emphasized that parliamentary journalism goes beyond simple reporting, as it involves providing credible, analytical, and well-informed accounts of legislative activities.
President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), Yeanor Kabia, stressed the need for objectivity and accuracy in national reporting. She praised parliament for its ongoing collaboration with the media, describing the initiative as a major boost to media professionalism.
Also speaking, vice president of women in the media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Mabinty Magdalene Kamara, commended Parliament for promoting gender inclusivity and supporting female journalists. She described ethical reporting as a cornerstone of professional journalism, adding that parliamentary reporters play a vital role in shaping national discourse.
President of the Sierra Leone association of journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, lauded parliament for creating an enabling environment for the media to operate, he called for sustained training and engagement between parliament and the press to strengthen democratic governance through credible reporting.
The training concluded with technical sessions facilitated by Sheku Lamin Turay, director of the parliamentary and public relations department, who presented on understanding parliament and techniques of effective reporting, other facilitators led discussions on ethical journalism, social media and investigative reporting, and challenges and opportunities in parliamentary reporting.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 24 October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
