By Amin Kef Sesay
A new professional network was on the 4th August 2021 launched by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) with the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) as an implementing partner.
The rationale behind launching the professional network is to boost independent news production on business, financial and economic issues in Sierra Leone, by bringing journalists, business people and economists together to share ideas, build expertise and create opportunities for collaboration.
Facilitated by Invest Salone, the UK-Government funded private-sector development initiative, the Business and Economics Network was borne out of an interactive dialogue, held in March this year, between the media and the business community, where participants agreed there was a substantial unmet demand for better business and economics reporting in Sierra Leone.
In his statement, President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said although that area of journalism is essential so that everybody can understand the implications those forces have on day to day lives, however, the March dialogue highlighted the challenges journalists face.
“The media in Sierra Leone has an important role to play in Sierra Leone’s economic progress, by encouraging dialogue through accurate and timely information on business and economic issues; but there’s a skills gap in the journalism profession and a trust gap between the media and business sectors. These impede good reporting. The SLAJ Business and Economics Network is intended to help provide solutions, by creating a space where journalists and business professionals can learn from each other, share information and explore common ground,” he furthered.
President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) and winner of the SLAJ award for best economic reporting in 2018, Amadu Lamrana Bah has this to say:
“Good journalism should bring business and economics to life, making stories about these subjects interesting and relevant to all not just specialists. We look forward to building the network so that it represents one of the most dynamic and exciting fields in journalism in Sierra Leone.”
It was categorically made clear that membership of the new SLAJ Business and Economics Network is free and open to practising and aspiring journalists, as well as other professions with a genuine interest in collaborating to contribute to a more inclusive economy through improved economic and business reporting in Sierra Leone.
According to the President of SLAJ membership benefits are designed to create opportunities for professional learning and recognition, career development and knowledge sharing, as well as networking and mentoring.
Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie, who is the Team Leader of Invest Salone said:
“Invest Salone works with the public and private sectors to identify, design, and implement reforms that will reduce the costs and risks of doing business in Sierra Leone. An independent and vibrant Press widens the scope for the expression of opinions and ideas outside the Government which can help improve policymaking and accountable governance, and enable persuasive advocacy on business issues – all of which would contribute to creating a more enabling business environment and ultimately foster conditions for more inclusive growth, jobs and higher incomes for more Sierra Leoneans.”
According to what was stated SLAJ and SLRU welcome expressions of interest from journalists stating their names, addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers with a brief description of areas of interest and professional background.
