By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
In order to ensure that journalists report issues effectively without having injuries whilst on the field, the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) has trained media practitioners on safety policies and practices in Media Houses in the country ahead of the multitier elections.
The event was held in Freetown on the 19th May, 2023.
According to the National Coordinator of MRCG, Francis Sowa (Ph.D), the training was to reflect on a study they conducted sometime ago that looks at the Safety of Journalists’ Policies and Practices in relation to their work in Sierra Leone.
He said that study targeted Managers, Managing Editors, Proprietors, Publishers, Editors of radio stations and television stations, newspapers and online media across the country to solicit information and gather data on whether their media institutions do have safety and security policies.
He said based on their findings, the majority of the media houses lacked a safety and security policy, although most of them stated that such issues are addressed in their editorial policy.
Dr. Sowa pointed out that most journalists are not knowledgeable about tips on how to keep themselves safe in line of duty and therefore expose themselves to dangers when covering riots or demonstrations. He added that most of the personalities interviewed named police officers, military personnel, politicians, civil servants and community stakeholders as the most popular perpetrators of political violence.
In his presentation on the Safety of Journalists in Sierra Leone, Tonya Musa (Ph.D) being one of the facilitators noted that during elections, journalists frequently cover rallies, campaign events and protests which can increase the risk of being attacked, harassed, injured or detained. He therefore urged MRCG and its partners to continue organizing such training of editors, reporters, producers, managers and photojournalists on how to report the 2023 elections and understand the ways to mitigate physical, psychological and digital risk.
He stressed the importance of such a training in relation to electioneering period when the media is very vulnerable to attacks, harassments and intimidations from various political stakeholders including political party cadres, sympathizers and even members of the public.
He said the media plays an integral role in the implementation of free and fair elections, but noted that coverage can be highly demanding, stressful and dangerous for media practitioners.
Dr. Musa emphasized the need for objectivity, impartiality and balance in journalism which is an everyday challenge for media professionalism but he said there is no greater test of professionalism in media than that posed by the heat and pressure of bitterly-fought political elections.
He said elections represent a test of political commitment to democracy when the impulse to manipulate media and to control information is strongest among ruling parties and candidates running for office.
He also noted that the election process provides a further challenge to the media because it brings into sharp focus the need for journalists to provide citizens with access to all the facts, opinions and ideas. He said journalists must also let citizens’ voices be heard above the babble of political debate.
He advised journalists to assess the situation to determine its sensitivity relating to the conduct of political parties, politicians, security personnel, the judiciary, ethnic and regional dynamics and the availability of hospitals, codes of conduct, and election reporting guidelines. He also advised journalists to be on the lookout for certain signs of violence when reporting in a volatile political situation.
He admonished journalists to seek a safe location to film if violence breaks out and to take pictures away from the immediate area, avoid confrontations with the crowd and keep their press credentials clearly visible unless they believe violence was directed at the media.
Group work that explained the new forms of violations, perpetrators of violence and recommendations towards the safety of journalists and professionalism formed part of the training.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (22/05/23)
