By: Precious Miracle Kargbo (Intern)
A member of the Independent Media Commissioner (IMC) Commissioner Mr. Ibrahim Barry, on 18th September 2023 confirmed that the IMC has conducted a one-day conference for 25 (twenty-five) community radio stations, which was done on their mandate to build the capacity of the media landscape in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Barry assures that the reason for the training was the outcome of a research and an inspection that was conducted by the IMC which yield a very bad result of over 85 percent % of community radio stations with no proper board. He added that the research also premeditated the training, as the IMC commission saw this as a grave danger and they decided to partner with the Chinese Embassy that in turn provided support to stage the training conference for community media personnel.
The commissioner went on to explain that the IMC is not only a regulatory body but they exist to also build the capacity of the Media. He furthers that the IMC 2020 Act part three section 11 (e), under the objects of the commission a part of their job is to promote communication research.
Mr. Barry recounted that the reason for choosing community radio stations to partake in this training exercise was because Sierra Leone is enjoying a taste of democracy and the radio is a form of the grass root media, and so many radio stations who came to the IMC to register their institutions are always enthusiastic to start operations but the moment they are given license then they start misbehaving.
Furthermore, Commissioner Barry maintains that the training focused on five main areas, which starts with governance issues, that speaks mainly to restructure and strengthen the board of these radio stations so that they will be able to manage a very successful media outlet which includes querying and sacking of any inactive board member even if that member is a big stakeholder of the community. He also pointed out to the lack of resources that many radio institutions are undergoing major hardship and are unable to fund the activities of these institutions, and also capacity building is another issue affecting these community radio stations, Commissioner Barry said.
Additionally, the Commissioner laments that the training also focuses and prepares the mind of community radio stations on digitalization, because the world is revolutionizing to a digital age and many community radio broadcasters are still in a very backward state, he also touched on the ethical part of the media as very crucial point in which the IMC code of practice is overseeing. He expressed disappointment that most of community broadcasters don’t read and so they are not well abreast with media laws and ethics which include objectivity, fairness and impartiality as the basis of journalism.
Commissioner Barry, said “in general, we are trying to prepare these community radio stations to participate in the general media development that is taking place in the country, because they have a very huge following”.
He said the commission has specific protocols that are set for all media institutions in Sierra Leone and in most cases when any institution is found wanting then the commission will likely take a stern action against the violators. He also revealed these community radio stations that are being targeted have not fall short of any violations but they are just being chosen because of the low budget that the commission is facing at the moment and these 25 (twenty-five) radio stations is just the beginning.
Conclusively, Commissioner Barry exhorts that community broadcasters, managers and owners through this engagement made their request and constraints known to the commission is because of the low finance or budget that they are experiencing and sometimes these people that are problems at their management are the main sponsors financially. The Commissioner assures that they have heard and understands the problems of these community broadcasters and the commission will meet and discuss possible solutions to these problems.