At the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Annual General Meeting over the weekend, Francis Sowa, PhD, National Coordinator of the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), advocated for crucial reforms to strengthen media viability and independence. The AGM, themed “Charting the Way Forward: A New Constitution for an Inclusive and Strong SLAJ,” aimed to address challenges within the sector.
Sowa referenced the National Action Plan from the Media Viability and Investment Conference, highlighting the need for a legal framework review to support media sustainability. He urged SLAJ to lead this reform and focus on securing private-sector investment and public funding.
He also emphasized SLAJ’s independence, calling for it to act as a trade union to protect journalists’ interests. On media funding, Sowa mentioned progress in establishing a national public-interest media fund, despite delays, and urged the government to fulfill its financial commitment to this initiative.
Sowa concluded by encouraging SLAJ members to adopt the new constitution, emphasizing its inclusivity and the association’s role in shaping Sierra Leone’s media future.
