By Sulaiman Jalloh
As a groundbreaking and inspiring media outlet in Sierra Leone, Expo Media Group launched its website on Friday, December 22, 2023, at its33 Macdonald Street office in Freetown to promote digital information sharing in both Sierra Leone and the Sierra Leone Diaspora.
Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chief Executive Officer, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Expo Media Group said “the website and its various news contents basically aim at not only reporting fair, balance, and accurate news, but more importantly interpreting the news in ways that would positively impact our society.”
According to him, Expo Media Group publishes news of quality contents which include human interest stories, human rights, the environment, politics, development, business, finance, economy, sports, entertainment etc. in its various print and online media outlets“ For us it is not only about reporting the news as it happens but also pursuing and interpreting the issues that inform the events. The focus is on shedding light on the issues that surround the events and what people may say about them”, Dr Shaw added.
According to the nationally and globally acclaimed media expert, media poverty is obstructing and disturbing the media landscape in the country hence the need to intensify efforts on digital publishing; the idea is to inspire other media entities to follow suit.
“Expo Media wants to create a difference in the media landscape in Sierra Leone…making a difference is about thinking about and implementing solutions, thus going beyond just reflecting on the problems,” said Dr Shaw.
Dr. Shaw disclosed that during the 90s, there were not many websites/digital news outlets, but in the 21st century, many people tend to read stories online (credible websites), noting that the business model of only printing newspapers and magazines is not working in Sierra Leone and the rest of the world. He said moreover, advertising revenue is very low thus leading to media poverty in the country, adding that the private sector is hardly advertising with the print media, while those that do, including the public sector, do not pay on time.
The Chief Executive Officer noted that the website is not only aimed at competing with those producing breaking news but more importantly standing out as the online platform with more quality, factual, balanced, analytical, and credible content.
Welcoming journalists, bloggers and other invited guests, earlier in the programme, Managing Editor, Sheku Putka Kamara noted that the website publishes Expo Times Newspaper three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, as well as the monthly Expo Magazine featuring contents on all walks of life.
According to Amara Thoronka, the General Editor of Expo Media and manager of its website, the website has two subscription options: individual subscription and an institutional subscription with the Individual Quarterly Subscription – (10% Discount), Individual Half Year Subscription – (15% Discount), Individual Annual Subscription – (30% Discount), Institutional Monthly Subscription, Institutional Quarterly Subscription – (10% Discount), Institutional Half-year Subscription – (15% Discount), and Institutional Annual Subscription – (30% Discount).
According to the General Editor, the subscription is structured in United States currency but one can subscribe using its equivalence in the Leones and even by Orange Money. He said there is a free trial period of one month for individual subscribers.
Comparatively, in this part of the world, Expo Times is the first media outlet to introduce such development. For this development, many Sierra Leoneans have hailed this idea. Abu Bakara Turay, a fervent reader of Expo Times noted: “I like this movement…Expo Times is the pathfinder for this development. This is a big boost to the media landscape in the country…”
Expo Media Group commenced with the establishment of Expo Times Newspaper first registered in 1995 and operated as daily newspaper until it was forced to close down in February 1998 in the wake of the deadly civil war. It re-emerged as an online newspaper in 2000 and has since been publishing, albeit not very active until recently. The print version of this online newspaper briefly appeared in the newsstands in 2001 for few months and then ceased publication again due to some unavoidable circumstance. The newspaper finally relaunched its print version on 5th September,2022 by publishing twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays; it recently started publishing its midweek business edition. The Expo Media Group launched Expo Magazine in January 2023 as the country’s first and only monthly magazine. The magazine is also online and is part of the subscription package.
Visit this news link for more on the Expo Media website subscription package: Membership Levels – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, December 28th, 2023 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)