AWE Media Sierra Leone

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy)✍️ Meet the Author Emmerson has become a generational singer, politically speaking. He prefers to use music as a medium for pointing at what he perceives to be the ills or shortcomings of a generation in governance. He seems to be taking the place of social critics and political analysts save that he harps on the seamy side of things. The fundamental question is how much has his songs changed over time. If anything, he offers, through songs, a spirit of relief and extreme exuberance to a generation in opposition. He has become a generational musical celebrity. Ironically, he has today ceased to be SLPP party pikin!  Not too long ago those who forgot his Borbor Belle Album classified him as having gone to his roots. Well, I am yet to hear what will be his new classification. As Emmerson mentioned Confusion.com, we are indeed a confused society. The prism is that it is wrong when not in our favour but right when in our favour.

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy) ✍️ Photo of the Author The Makeni riot and attendants consequences are pluralistic in definition, interpretation and discernment. Disproportionate apportioning of blame was heaped up and, most times, callously shifted! However, there are elements of convergence: condemnation of the entire debacle, call for justice, upsurge of humanitarianism and the commitment to "never again". In reverse order, there were outcomes and consequences     characterized by the killings and destruction of public and private properties.   There was a riot action that led to the outlined outcomes and consequences. The riot action was engineered by causative factors and/or fundamental root causes and this level is where we need to search for the beast! The chaotic ingredients of the Makeni riot can be outlined thus: 1. Ignorance 2. Break in communication 3. Misinformation 4. Failure of local leadership 5. Invisible political incitement 6. Disregard for the due process ...

Today from our Northern Times Archives we bring you a reflection of one of the tragic effect of Poro men on a young lady called Satta. Her biological sister a year ago narrated this to us (Northern Times Newspaper)✍️

PRESS RELEASE 28 July, 2020 Sierra Leone: IFJ hails repeal of criminal defamation law The Sierra Leone Parliament has unanimously repealed on 23 July, 2020 its criminal libel law. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) to celebrate a great victory for freedom of expression and press freedom. Parliamentarians unanimously approved on 23 July the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act 2020 and repealed the 1965 Public Order Act (POA) that criminalized libel and sedition. In a statement celebrating the repeal of the libel law, SLAJ said: “the biggest beneficiary of the repeal of this bad law is Sierra Leone. Our beloved country has now joined the enviable community of progressive nations where free and responsible speech is guaranteed and protected by law. This is a huge milestone for freedom of expression and democracy in Sierra Leone.” The President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said: “Freedom comes with g...

PRESS RELEASE  FREETOWN | 24th July, 2020    SLAJ Celebrates Repeal of Criminal Libel and Enactment of New IMC Bill 2020    The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) rejoices over the historic repeal by the Sierra Leone Parliament of the 55-year-old Part 5 of the infamous Public Order Act of 1965, which criminalises free speech and the work of the media, and the enactment of a New IMC Bill 2020 which seeks to regulate same.    Thursday, 23rd July, 2020 will be remembered as Freedom Day not only for journalists but for all Sierra Leoneans. The biggest beneficiary of the repeal of this bad law is Sierra Leone. Our beloved country has now joined the enviable community of progressive nations, where free (and responsible) speech is guaranteed and protected by law.    SLAJ commends His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio for providing the political will, his Minister of Information and Communications Mohamed Rahman Swarray for driving the process, and the Sierra Leone Parliame...

MEDIA REFORM COORDINATING GROUP (MRCG) CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT AT THE PRE-LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) ACT 2020 AND THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION ACT 2020 AT THE COMMITTEE ROOM IN PARLIAMENT ON MONDAY 13TH JULY 2020 Photo of MRCG CHAIRMAN Dr. Francis Sowa Mr. Chairman, Honourable Members, Hon Minister, President of SLAJ, all protocols observed. Mr. Chairman, for 55 years, a giant has stood on top of the media fraternity and industry. It may be like Goliath in the Bible, or in more recent times, it can be linked to the Police Officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for about 8 minutes. Floyd called for help, but got none. Mr. Chairman and Hon. Members, we in the media are calling for help like Floyd. Our eight minutes have started long ago. We may be in our final minute. The media industry like Floyd, is shouting “it can’t breathe.” Unlike Floyd, we at the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), comprising 10 national media organisations, are optimistic that our ...