By Desmond Tunde Coker
World Sports Journalists Day is observed on 2nd July every year to acknowledge the work of sports journalists worldwide. Sports Journalism is a form of reporting on any sports-related topic. It is one of the essential sections of any media organization. World Sports Journalists Day was first celebrated in 1994.
Celebrating World Sports Journalist Day is important because recognizing the work of sports journalists keeps them motivated to work with more efficiency and commitment.
MESSAGE FROM SWASAL PRESIDENT SAHR MORRIS JR. TO CELEBRATE WORLD SPORTS JOURNALIST DAY 2023
Freetown, July 2
Dear Colleague,
It’s another year for us to celebrate ourselves as Sports Journalists, a day that is highly recognized; World Sports Journalists Day. Today is also the 99th anniversary of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), one year ahead of AIPS Centenary and also a year ahead of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) Golden Anniversary (50th Anniversary).
Whilst observing the day on a low key, it is very important to recognize one of our colleagues who recently passed away in the Eastern Region, the ever cheerful Fomba M. Kanneh, aka Locco B., and all others who have passed away (May their Souls Continue to Rest In Peace).
Celebrating World Sports Journalist Day is important because recognizing the work of sports journalists keeps them motivated to work with more efficiency and commitment. On that note, on behalf of my Executive and the membership, let me congratulate former Public Relations Officer, Ishmeal Saidu Kanu who was ranked 9th in Africa in the AIPS award joining the likes of Alusine Rehmi Wilson who achieved a similar feat a few years ago.
At this juncture, let me continue to urge all members to rise from their slumber, keep on the pace, and compete against others on the global stage, also, please grab whatever opportunities are on offer or shared by the Executive, rise to the challenge and achieve your potential.
Colleagues, 2023 has been a very difficult and challenging year for this Executive in terms of funding to accomplish all our planned goals but amidst all these difficulties, the Executive was able to overcome some and it may interest you to know that most of our international coverage involving our male and female national teams were 100% or 90% sponsored by the Executive with sometimes little support from other partners.
As part of this year’s celebration, the AIPS message is largely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact (positive or negative, depending on everyone’s opinion and approach to it) on the world of journalism and communication, and today, AI is increasingly impacting the way we cover sports. It affects everything from the level of fans or audience engagement and how we cover it to the way the sports are played and analyzed. Already, AI solutions are allowing automated match reports, edited video highlights and robotic cameras, etc.
In moving towards the world trend, I can assure you all that we’ve made several engagements with higher institutions of learning, the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) to further take Sports Journalism capacity building to another level and very soon we will cross the finish line. Furthermore, we’ve submitted a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the National Sports Authority (NSA) for further partnership and collaboration, we are just waiting on the leadership of the NSA to get the ink on the dotted lines.
As we urged our membership to brace up and continue practising our beloved profession with the utmost professionalism, we are calling on the Sierra Leone Football Association, the National Olympic Committee/Commonwealth Games Association, the Sports Ministry and Sporting Discipline to see SWASAL as partners in development.
To mark this year’s celebration, we are officially informing the General Public and Sports Journalists that on Monday, July 3, SWASAL will commence its new membership drive with our new Membership Application Form.
Also, for the first time, World Sports Journalists Day will be celebrated outside the Capital City of Freetown as the National Executive in collaboration with the SWASAL Southern Region will engage in sporting activities on 8 July 2023 in Bo.
In conclusion, please note Sports journalism is like sports, constantly in rhythm, movement, and speed. It is necessary to constantly follow the events happening in the world and within the country and be able to act very dynamically. Today’s sports journalism has become super-fast.
Long Live Sports!
Long Live Sports Journalism! Long Live SWASAL!
Thank You All!