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Human Voices First: Sierra Leone Journalists Urge Ethical AI Use in Radio on World Radio Day


As the world marks World Radio Day 2026, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has issued a clear message to the global media community: Artificial Intelligence may enhance broadcasting, but it must never replace the human voice at the heart of journalism.

In a statement signed by SLAJ National Secretary General Edward Marrah, the association joined international partners in observing this year’s theme, “Radio and Artificial Intelligence: AI is a Tool, Not a Voice.” The message underscores both the promise of emerging technologies and the enduring power of radio as a trusted public service medium.

For decades, radio has remained the most accessible and resilient form of communication in Sierra Leone, connecting city centers to the most remote villages. It has informed citizens, amplified marginalized voices, preserved local languages and cultures, and supported national development through public health campaigns, disaster response, civic education, and peacebuilding efforts.

SLAJ acknowledged that AI is transforming newsrooms worldwide, offering tools that can improve efficiency in content production, translation, archiving, and audience engagement. However, the association cautioned that these innovations must serve as support mechanisms rather than substitutes for journalists, editors, and presenters.

The statement emphasizes that credibility in broadcasting depends on human judgment, ethical responsibility, and editorial independence — qualities that cannot be automated. While technology can process data and streamline workflows, it cannot replicate lived experience, cultural understanding, or the moral accountability that underpins responsible journalism.

SLAJ therefore called on media owners, policymakers, broadcasters, and development partners to invest in radio’s future by strengthening professional capacity and promoting responsible AI integration. Such efforts, the association noted, will help ensure that radio continues to evolve without compromising its core values.

Reaffirming its commitment to press freedom and ethical journalism, SLAJ stressed that radio must remain a people-centered platform — one powered by technology but guided by human integrity.

In a rapidly changing digital landscape, Sierra Leone’s journalists are reminding the world that while tools may change, trust is built — and sustained — by human voices.

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