Sierra Leone has joined other countries around the world to observe World Press Freedom Day on the theme of Journalism under Digital Siege. The day acts as a reminder for governments and state apparatus around the globe to uphold the right to freedom of expression.
The day aims to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom around the world, defend the media against the attacks on its independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives while performing their duty
In observance of the day, the President of SLAJ Ahamed Sahid Nasralla said in Freetown that the country has made some progress in the promotion and protection of Journalists and Journalism, despite other concerns and threats facing the sector.
SLAJ President cited the repeal of the seditious and criminal libel law by this government, hosting of the just concluded Media Viability Investment Conference, and other reforms in the media landscape but frowned at the frequent arrests of journalists by the Sierra Leone Police.
He said the recent World media index has put Sierra Leone on an impressive ladder moving from forty-six to twenty-nine places upwards.
Station Manager, Star Radio Abdulrahman Kamara said the day was worth celebrating by the country’s journalists stating that many changes have taken place in the media landscape. He cited media poverty and limited investment in the sector as some of the major challenges but stressed the need for capacity building and frequent training for journalists.
Managing Editor Public Review News Paper Joseph Turay said the repeal of the Criminal Libel law, reviewing of the IMC Act, the establishment of a number of community radio stations, and the increasing number of women in the field of journalism were pointers of progress in the promotion and protection of Journalists and Journalism.
He said Freedom of expression is a fundamental right and the press plays an important role in informing the public about the happenings in their country and around the world.
In 1993, 3 May was declared World Press Freedom Day and this declaration came after a recommendation was made in 1991 at the 26th General Conference session of UNESCO.