November 23, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
Classic Radio 99.7FM in Bo has gone into to the history of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to be the first local radio station in Sierra Leone ,where the BBC 50:50 Equality Projected has been piloted.
Speaking at a two day Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIME) In-Station Mentoring Inclusive Journalism training held at the Dohas Hotel Hall in Bo last week, one of the Mentors of the BBC Media Action, Mariatu Kabbah said that the BBC 50: 50 Equality Project is committed to inspiring the BBC and organizations around the globe to consistently create journalism and media content that fairly represent the world.
She said that the project will improve representation and deliver cultural change, and is about bringing many women voices as well as men in order to create a fair platform into content, adding that it is a system with the effort of a long lasting change on scale of no compromise of quality.
“BBC Media approach from the BBC World Service, Sierra Leone has been the first country to experiment the 50:50 Equality Project and will be done with one of our local radio stations partners, working with the PRME Project, which is Classic Radio 99.7FM in Bo.
It will be a test case to know the impact of the project,’’ Madam Kabba said.
The General Manager of Classic Radio, Richard Lahai Ngevao said that as a management they want to thank God.
He noted that this is an opportunity and a blessing to be chosen among other radio stations in Sierra Leone to start the BBC 50:50 Equality Project.
According to him, this is a boost for the institution and will raise the profile of the radio, and this will set the bar high for other competing media houses in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Classic Radio, Jibao Steven Coomber said that “I am happy over the selection of Classic Radio and I want to assure the BBC that my staff will make sure that there is a fair representation in the content of our programs, as we will ensure that we bring many women and equally the men on all our programs.’’
“We will deliver the impact expected from the 50:50 equality projects,’’ he re-assured.