Sierra Leone: On the road to independent reporting

For more than ten years Sierra Leone was caught up in one of the bloodiest civil wars in Africa. Although peace returned to this west African country nine years ago, the transition to becoming a democratic society is taking longer. The former state broadcaster, SLBS, is going through a similar transition. At the end of 2009, the country’s parliament approved a law to restructure the pro-government broadcaster, SLBS, as a public one.

Freedom of expression

Ban Ki-Moon and Ernest Bai Koroma (right)

This was almost setting a precedent: Sierra Leone is only the second African country after South Africa to voluntarily hand over control of its state broadcaster and grant it the status of a public one. The President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, had called for greater freedom of expression, and commenting on the parliament’s decision said, "Let us bring to the microphone all shades of opinions, let no voice be marginalized." UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, praised the move saying, "This is a milestone in this country’s march to progress." He also praised the progressive media policy which assured a fusion with Sierra Leone’s UN Radio. As part of the peace process, UN Radio had been broadcasting programs throughout the country since 2000.

Training and Consulting

From the start, DW Akademie has been supporting the new Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) with workshops and consulting services. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is financing DW Akademie’s three-year project. Since 2010 DW Akademie has trained SLBC’s managers in management-related questions; has provided bi-medial training for radio and television journalists; and has regularly visited the workplace of SLBC staff to see if they are applying their new skills, and to see whether they require additional training. Together with SLBC, DW Akademie is also introducing online journalism training. An initial workshop held in April 2011 met with great enthusiasm

The next challenge for SLBC journalists will be the presidential and parliamentarian elections planned for November 2012. DW Akademie will be supporting the young broadcasting service with workshops on election reporting.

Following the elections held in 2007, there was a peaceful transfer of power to the opposition. This gives hope for the upcoming elections, where Sierra Leone could once again be the region’s democratic role model. An independent and free press will play a decisive role in this.