By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Chairman of the Independent Media Commission, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, has disclosed that they observed weak governance system in almost there 70% of the media houses, this he said is due to the absence of or non-functioning of boards which has perforated the ability to provide policy oversight by a competent body.
He also said that there are 501 licensed media institutions across the country but not all have complied with their renewal processes for 2022.
He made this disclosure during a press conference at the IMC Headquarter 3rd Floor 54 Siaka Steven Street in Freetown, as according to Commissioner Massaquoi the aim of organizing the press conference was to explain the successes and challenges of the commission and findings the commission did on media outlet cross the country.
According to him, about 97 percent of the print media are concentrated in Freetown whiles radio is spread out in all 16 districts. Television broadcast is mostly based in Freetown, regional towns and some district headquarters towns.
Explaining the research and tentative findings of media outlet in the country, Dr Massaquoi, said that in their findings they observed weak governance system in almost 70% of the media houses, the absence of or non-functioning of boards to provide policy oversight by a competent body hence established key challenges as established during the research.
He added that the current crop 65% of manager of media houses have very little training or previous practical management experience hence mover 70% of the stations, for example are in relative poor management state needing serious oversight training and investment.
He said over 90% of the radio stations especially those in the rural areas dubbed as community radio stations lack critical spare transmitters, thus noting that any technical anomaly would lead to silence.
He added that over 75% of newspaper and magazines are one reel away from closure, newsprints are expensive and other management and production processes are cumbersome, he continued that many other small but important findings, bordering on capacity building, investment, tools, equipment and ownership, license, registration and more, have been revealed.
“The responsibility to ensure that the media operate professional and observe ethical compliance lies with the IMC, and with the support of SLAJ, media houses, and by extension the people and the government to know what obtains, the fundamental human rights of any state are midwifed by the media through gate keeping and public education and information”, he said.
He urges the government to facilitate the development and training of government structure of media houses, and also to intensify media monitoring to ensure governance and management functions.
He further urges media outlets to address management issues through training, and admonish media houses to go digital and produce consumable online content that comes with financial benefit for sustainability.
Dr. Massaquoi, said some of their achievement over the past ten months, he said the commission have been able to develop over half a dozen project proposals and concept notes of which three are now in the pipeline.
He said there is still a major need to raise the level of professionalism among print and electronic media personnel throughout Sierra Leone; he said this can be done through sustained training, practical exchange programmes and training opportunities among radio station and building of awareness among district council and community radio leaders/staff.
