By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) has urged government and development partners to commit to a national fund for public interest media and to allocate at least 3% of the annual national budget to media investment and development.
During an engagement on the operations of the National Fund for Public Interest Media (NaFPIM) on the 25th April, 2024 in Freetown, the Group suggested that the government engages its development partners to seek complementary support for the fund and to help coordinate the efforts of international actors.
Director of Information at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, Emmanuel Turay noted that the initiative for a national fund is something that will make the media viable and attract investors in the sector. He registered the ministry’s unwavering commitment to the media investment in Sierra Leone and appreciation of the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) for their support to enhance government vision for media financing and sustainability in Sierra Leone.
‘’The IMC statistics show that Sierra Leone has over 500 media institutions in a country of a total population of 8 million people,’’ he said.
Turay emphasized that advancing public interest media in Sierra Leone is necessary at this moment as could be seen by the Independent Media Commission (IMC) acknowledgement of media poverty. As clearly stated in the IMC Act of 2020, he confirmed that they were also keen to get media houses pay journalists salaries and their NASSIT contributions.
He encouraged all including donors to support the government in assisting the media sector in Sierra Leone.
IFPIM Director for Africa and the Middle East, Mohamed Makmid Kamara said that it is important to ensure that support to the media is not just left to the donor community.
‘’The Sierra Leone case stands out because the government in cooperation with SLAJ saw the need to support the media in a way that is more sustainable and not just a quick fix. So we are very pleased to be partners in this process,’’ he said.
He assured of their commitment to match whatever money that is given by other donors should the government of Sierra Leone be unable to provide support to such contributions even though he said they will be very happy for the government to do so. He added that they will be happy to welcome other support from other international communities who see the need and the important role that the media play in the country’s democracy.
IFPIM’s Director ended by thanking the MRCG and other stakeholders who have been supporting the national fund for public interest media.
In his statement, the Country Director of BBC Media Action Sierra Leone, Edward Kargbo said that supporting media around the world is an integral part of the way the BBC works and that every opportunity they have to make such a contribution they will take advantage of it recognizing the role the media plays in nurturing the sustenance of democracy.
He noted that Media poverty is something they have identified that holds the media back from being independent and viable. He said he was proud that BBC Media Action was part of the arrangement.
The Media Reform Coordinating Group is the leading Media Development Agency in Sierra Leone established to strengthen democratic dialogue, consolidate peace and ensure development through professional, independent and sustainable media, based on the right to freedom of expression and speech.
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