By: Amadu Wurie Timbo
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) on Tuesday 12th October 2021 ended a day-long engagement with Journalists, CSOs and Security forces to validate the newly Revised Media Code of Practice.
The event took place at the Hotel Conteh-U in Makeni where Media Stakeholders from institutions across the North met and looked into the recently drafted ‘Media Code of Practice’ and collectively validated Laws that serves as guiding principles to Journalists and, as well as reflecting the needs and desires of Citizen.
Fourah Bay College Lecturer Dr. Francis Sowa was the Facilitator who in his presentation reminded attendees on the priceless role of the media in national development and its adverse effect when it is poorly used.
He continued that, Journalists should enhance familiarities and heighten relationship with laws that surround their trade, inasmuch as their role in National development is key and always remain counted.
However, heads of Media institutions were encouraged to invest time in their staffs to outsource the best practice in Journalism which will net them with Accurate, Balance and Credible (ABC) news.
Several comments, recommendations and views were made during the valuation of the code but amusingly, all laws were discussed and suitably validated as though they were prepared in the interest of all.
Responding to this medium, Dr. Suma the Commissioner at the Independent Media Commission disclosed that the ‘Media Code of Practice’ has been enacted as a Law since 2007 but nothing good realized out of it and recalled that, few changes have happened just recently, that is; the Repeal of the Criminal Liable Law and the IMC act which both become in full course since 2020.
He added that everything has improved in the media Landscape of the Nation except for the laws that guide the operations of Journalists, ranging from investigation to publication. “the laws are important, that’s why we started our engagements in district level and now in Regional Level”.
He reiterated that, Journalists are now on press freedom sine the repeal of the Criminal liable law but should also note that they are living in the circle of ‘civil law’, stressing that, violators of those laws are subjected to fine or suspension.
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