(SLENA 2nd December, 2021). The Independent Media Commission (IMC) on 30th November, 2021, holds a closing meeting with media stakeholders on the draft validated Media Code of Practice for Print and Electronic Media, at the IMC conference room 54 Siaka Steven Street Freetown.
The meeting was chaired by the IMC Chairman George S Khoryama. In attendance were representatives of SLAJ, WIMSAL, IRN, Guild of Editors, MRCG as well as Commissioners and staff of the Commission. Intimating stakeholders on the purpose of the meeting the Chairman said it was in recognition of the important roles media stakeholders had played in putting this all important document together that the closing meeting was held. He referred to the draft Media Code of Practice as the bible and Quran for media practitioners and other stakeholders in the media industry. Chairman George Khoryama disclosed that the consultation and validation processes of the document across the country were facilitated with funds from the BBC Media Action through the PRIMED Project.
The Executive Secretary of the IMC, Khalil Kallon informed participants that the document is unique, in that it only contains the codes of practice for print and the electronic media. He assured participants that the document contained all of the inputs that were made by the media as well as stakeholders during the consultation and validation processes. He said the IMC in early 2022 will commence the review of the Code on Reporting and Coverage of General and Local Elections in Sierra Leone as well the Advertising Code contained in Section Four of the Media Code of Practice. He concluded that from this stage, the Draft Media Code of Practice for Print and Electronic Media would be taken to the Minister of Information and Communications for drafting by the Law Officers Department; and from there the document would be taken to Parliament for it to have the force of Law.
Ransford Wright, Independent Radio Network (IRN), agreed with the Executive Secretary that there is no way a document of such nature could be reviewed without capturing the views and aspiration of the key players. He congratulated the IMC for such a great job done.
Representing the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara commended the IMC for giving preference to all stakeholders by sharing the document for everyone’s input. He noted that indeed the draft document reflects their wishes and aspirations.