The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has reacted to a press release issued by the Sierra Leone Bar Association over "some of the conduct of the members of the media profession" which it says hinges on "breaches of professional and ethical standards of media practice and fall foul of existing laws of general application in Sierra Leone and derogate from international standards of journalism."
SLAJ says it views the bar's stated position as having been stated "in very bad taste, especially so when the release categorically blankets the whole media in Sierra Leone as bad".
"The Bar Association has lost its direction. They have chosen to make politically supportive statements instead of standing up for the rights of the people which is their core function” SLAJ President, Kelvin Lewis is quoted as saying.
The release says the lawyers' position "displayed clear bias by categorically outlining what they believe are the bad practice of media practitioners, while in the same vein the release failed to strike a balance by equally stating clearly the basic human rights violations suffered in the hands of the Police and Judiciary by journalists".
The bar had criticised journalists for "open warfare amongst Media Practitioners; b. vitriolic comments made by and against media practitioners; c. Unprintable words published against other journalists, politicians and members of the public; d. Indecorous conduct in the practice of journalism". SLAJ pooh-poohs this, saying it "believes the Bar Association should concern itself more with dealing with unethical practices among some lawyers rather than making blanket criticisms of the media". It cites the exchange of blows in court by some senior lawyers, "lawyers’ involvement in fraudulent land deals; c. Members of the public complaining that lawyers have taken their monies and not rendered services, and others."
the journalism fraternity calls on the bar to be "objective in its assessment of national issues, particularly where they have to do with violations of citizens’ human rights."
