By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The newly elected Executive of the Guild of Newspaper Editors Sierra Leone (GoNESL) paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, at his Youyi Building office on Thursday, 3rd July.
Led by Guild Chairman, Thomas Dixon, the delegation formally introduced the new leadership to the Minister and shared their strategic aspirations for the media sector. Chairman Thomas Dixon highlighted the vital role newspapers and editors continue to play in strengthening and sustaining democracy in Sierra Leone, praising their ongoing contributions to national development and the country’s political discourse.
He extended gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio and the Government for their continued support, specifically acknowledging the subvention provided to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists. “Please convey our congratulations to the President on his recent ascension to the Chairmanship of ECOWAS,” Thomas Dixon added.
Addressing challenges in the industry, Thomas Dixon raised concerns about the impact of artificial intelligence and digitization, describing them as existential threats to traditional journalism. He called for Government-supported training programs in AI journalism and other media innovations to equip journalists for the 21st century. The Guild also appealed for enforcement of an advertisement policy that would compel private companies operating in Sierra Leone to support the media, noting Government advertisement payments are sometimes written off as bad debt. Additionally, the Guild expressed a desire to recognize and celebrate veteran editors who have significantly contributed to the profession.
In response, Minister Chernor Bah congratulated the Guild’s leadership and informed the delegation that Cabinet had recently approved two landmark national policies: the National Media and Information Policy and the National Records and Archives Policy. He assured the Guild that work is underway on the Advertisement Policy, Data Protection Policy and other related legislation. The Minister welcomed the proposal to honor media doyens and pledged Government support for such initiatives, promising to relay the Guild’s congratulatory message to President Bio.
Minister Chernor Bah elaborated on the recently approved policies, calling them “groundbreaking steps toward enhancing transparency, accountability and democratic governance.” The National Media and Information Policy provides a comprehensive framework to protect press freedom, promote responsible journalism, support community media, digital platforms and local languages, and empower citizens with access to accurate and timely information. It builds upon President Bio’s repeal of the Criminal Libel law.
The National Records Management and Archives Policy establish guidelines for managing public records and preserving Sierra Leone’s historical archives, both digitally and physically. This policy reflects the Government’s commitment to data-driven decision-making, increased accountability and safeguarding the nation’s historical memory.
The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between the Government and media professionals in advancing democratic governance and adapting to the rapidly evolving media landscape in Sierra Leone. Both parties expressed optimism about the future of journalism and information dissemination in the country.
