February 22, 2021
By: Abubakarr Kargbo (BO)
The Sports Writers of Sierra Leone has on Friday 19 February, ended a training workshop for journalists a Harry Yansaneh Memorial Hall, secretariat of the Sierra Leone Association in Freetown. The training was conducted for two days.
The 30 participants were drawn from across the country inclusive of the East, West, North and Southern Region.
In His opening statement, the President of the Association Mr. Frank Magnus Earnest Cole said as part of his manifesto in 2015, he promised delegates and members of the Association of capacity building.
He appealed to beneficiaries of the training to pay heed to the issues learnt as means of becoming more professional in their reporting as journalists.
The President of the Common Wealth Games chef the Mission Unisa Deen Kargbo highlighted the misconception of Journalists regarding covering the games.
He said it is difficult to get many of them due to Sierra Leone insufficient athletes’ quota and their participation in international competitions is not encouraging.
The interactive session gave journalists the understanding in covering the common Wealth Games and also the Olympics games.
Mohamed Fajah Barrie former President of the Association shared his experience in covering international matches and tournaments, which gave journalists insights for future opportunities to perform well.
The Day Two Presentation by Dr. Francis Sowa the Chairman Independence Media Commission dwelt on the new IMC Act/ Media code of practice and also the Public Order Act ,part five as repealed and Amended.
Other topics taught included Ethical Journalism, Basic Principles of Professional Media Reporting with special reference to the prevailing COVID 19 context. This topic was handled by Dr. Abdul Rahman Swaray, who doubles as the Deputy Director at the National Sport Authority.
One of the participants in the training Esther Marie Samura, a Sport Presenter at SLBC described the training as timely and very refreshing. She said due to the present politics in sport, many journalists have not been telling the story. She pleaded with the association to consider more of such trainings for its members.
Another participant, Sheku Saccoh Turay, who also serve as the Chairman North, said the will share the knowledge learnt to other colleagues who were not in attendance. He said the topics learnt were relevant for their professional growth.
President Cole paid tribute to the Sierra Leone football Association (SLFA) for providing the critical funds that seen the conduct of the two day training.
He also made mention of three thousand dollars support from SLFA to help SWASAL members pursuing courses in higher institutions of learning. He revealed that they have taxed other executive members to fill the funding gaps in supporting their members in higher institutions of learning. He also used the occasion to extend thanks to the parent body Sierra Leone Association of Journalists for the seven million Leones support.
The training session was climaxed by award of certificates.