By:Sierra Leone Media Team
A three-week media seminar kicked off on November 5, 2023, organized by China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), with 25 Sierra Leonean journalists in attendance. The seminar, which will conclude on November 27, 2023, aims to honor journalists, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen bilateral cooperation between China and Sierra Leone.
Yan Ni, Deputy Director-General of the International Cooperation Department at NRTA, highlighted China’s significant growth in radio, television, and online audio-visual media. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in these fields, noting that China’s robust domestic media landscape has experienced global expansion through collaborations, acquisitions, and content distribution.
Ni also alluded to the Belt and Road Initiative’s role in facilitating media infrastructure investments in partner countries, explaining that China aims to project soft power and counter Western media narratives by promoting Chinese culture and perspectives. However, she did not shy away from mentioning the country’s strict government control over media content.
By the end of 2022, China had welcomed 6,646 officials, media organization managers, senior editors, journalists, and technicians from 152 developing regions and countries into various training programs.
Khalil Kallon, Executive Secretary at the Independent Media Commission (IMC) of Sierra Leone and the team leader for the 2023 seminar, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. He commended China’s MOFCOM for hosting the event and extended his appreciation to Ambassador Wang Qing of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone.
Kallon pointed out the essential role of media in Sierra Leone’s democratic principles, national development, and improving the quality of life of Sierra Leoneans. He also noted the media’s critical role in shaping the country’s political, economic, and social development since the end of the civil war.
Kallon emphasized that Sierra Leone’s media institutions have significantly contributed to the development of China-Sierra Leone friendship and cooperation. He expressed his belief that the knowledge gained from the seminar would be beneficial for the participants and their colleagues back home.
He concluded by urging the organizers to consider Sierra Leone for future programs, stressing the need for further media development in the country, including professional training and modern broadcast and printing equipment. He expressed his anticipation for a fruitful deliberation during the seminar.
News Review Team Cautions People Of Gbense Chiefdom Kono District To Remain Peaceful Ahead Of 16th January 2024 Paramount Chieftaincy Election
By: Problyn J Alpha
Ahead of the Gbense chiefdom paramount chieftaincy election slated for 16th January 2024, the News Review Team a good governance radio talk show on radio New Song FM 91.3mhz in kono District has on Sunday 5th November 2023 ,urged the people of kono District especially in Gbense chiefdom to remain peaceful before, during and even after the election as peace is the road map to sustainable development.
According to the News Review Team members, the pending election has so far heightened tension among the ten candidates that are vying for the said position and their supporters including family members of the respective ruling houses, noting the chiefdom can only be developed when love and peace prevail between and among the aforementioned categories of people.
The News Review Team members for the sake of peace strictly advised candidates for the said election especially those without the legal or biological right to contest the election to back out from the race as it is a recipe for unreasonable expenditures and unrest in the city of koidu and kono District as a whole.
In concluding, the team members of the News Review radio programme underscored the need to review the declaration of right process as it has the potential of throwing spanner of division among the Family members of the respective ruling houses contesting the election now that national cohesion is a clarion call.
They therefore frowned at political interference in such elections if peace and love should be enjoyed by the people of Gbense chiefdom and kono District as a whole.
Meanwhile members of the News Review radio talk show programme on Sunday 5th November 2023 included: Moses Tumbay,Sahr O Fallah,Sahr James and Victor Amara .Whilst the said programme was moderated by the aforementioned radio station manager Problyn John Alpha.
