The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (EC-SL) in collaboration with the German Embassy and the ECOWAS Commission has held a two-day capacity building training for journalists across the country to enhance credible, balance, fair and accurate elections reporting.
The training which is co-funded by the European Union was held on the 6th -7th of June 2022, at the Mamba Point Hotel in Freetown. The training is part of the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Project which also seeks to capacity media practitioners and Social Media Influencers in the country.
Representative of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Zainab Moseray said that the training will equip and empower members of the press with the right information and tools to better report on electoral activities and processes.
She added that Journalists should always remember that their pens and mics are just as lethal as a bullet. She, therefore, advised Journalists to use those tools wisely and with good conscience.
“Our nation will be a better and peaceful place if we all recognize we all have a part to play and make a commitment to report objectively,” Moseray said.
Head of Good Governance Department of ECOWAS Commission, Emmanuel Okorodudu said that media practitioners should uphold the issue of contents development and respect of fundamental human rights during elections reporting, adding that they should avoid contents that provoke violence but rather engage in ones that will guarantee unity, respect and objectivity.
He said that after the training, Journalists are expected to enhance capacities to report credibly, professionally, objectively and will also have a practical understanding of de-escalating political tension while discharging their duties amongst supporters of political parties.
The Head of European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Manuel Muller said that objectivity and political neutral media reporting plays a crucial role in preventing and addressing fake news, inflammatory speeches and suspicion around electoral processes, adding that a cordial relationship between ECSL and the Media would contribute to the delivery of peaceful, transparent, inclusive and credible elections
He alluded that the media is a key asset to democracy which acts as a watchdog to ensure process are transparent and legitimate. He said that the number of news contents providers has grown exponentially, this he said might lead to ignoring some of the fundamentals of Journalism.
