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From Standard Times Press News Paper Commentaries SLAJ is seriously concerned about and denounces what appears to be a move by certain senior UN Radio staff acting in connivance with a handful of journalists of the Independent Radio Network (IRN) to hijack and personalise the transformation process of UN Radio, into an independent national public service broadcast media entity, without due consideration to SLAJ and other legitimate local media stakeholders like the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) and the private sector.
Documentary evidence clearly indicates that these individuals, believed to be motivated entirely by self-interest, have already hastily put together a Declaration of Trust and Memorandum and Articles of Association which establish a Consortium dominated by foreign organizations, namely BBC World Service Trust, Search for Common Ground and Fondation Hirondelle to own and oversee the daily operations of the radio, which also has the sole authority “to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the property belonging to the Consortium.”
While appreciating the commendable contributions these foreign media/media advocacy institutions have been making towards enhancing the institutions and capacity of the personnel of the local media, SLAJ is strongly against entrusting ownership and oversight responsibilities of a national radio (intended to be a solely Sierra Leonean owned) into their charge and that of a loose and restricted local network of community radio stations as the IRN.
SLAJ believes that for Radio Salone to be a truly national entity as intended by the UN, it must be owned and managed by local organisations/institutions not foreigners. SLAJ is convinced that as long as those foreign institutions mean well for Sierra Leone, they could still develop programmes like ‘Cotton Tree News’ and ‘Atunda Ayunda’ for Radio Salone without necessarily owning it.
Also, according to those instruments establishing Radio Salone, a Board of five Trustees, dominated by three direct Government and statutory bodies, namely the Independent Media Commission, Human Rights Commission and Ministry of Information and Communication, has already been constituted by those individuals without prior consultation with SLAJ, civil society and the private sector.
Moreover, the criteria which were used to select these organisations and those of the Board are also suspect as they continue to be shrouded in secrecy, despite persistent calls by SLAJ for them to be made public.
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SLAJ as the sole national professional journalists association in the country with a mandate to promote professionalism and media pluralism, defend press freedom and protect journalists working in the country, still believes that it has not only a moral stake, but also a legitimate right to be part of the Consortium, rather than being part of a Board which has already been made dormant in composition as well as its responsibilities, even before it has been properly established.
SLAJ is particularly disturbed by attempts by certain ill-motivated members of the IRN to equate the status of their news agency to it in terms of stake to the national media. SLAJ, which cuts across all media and media advocacy institutions in the country, wishes to urge those IRN staff to desist forthwith, especially those already registered with SLAJ and those whose applications to join SLAJ are under consideration, if they do not wish to risk sanctions.
They are warned that SLAJ is determined to ensure that any attempt by them or other individuals to bring SLAJ into disrepute or polarise the media in the country will be met with the stiffest resistance. They must therefore endeavour to continue to be respectful and accountable to SLAJ which is the parent body of all local media organisations operating in the country.
SLAJ wishes to use this opportunity to also call for an expanded role of the Board to include overseeing broad policy and financial affairs; squashing of the clause which gives power to the Consortium to sell properties belonging to Radio Salone and the reduction of Government representation on the Board of Trustees, to make provision for private sector representation, with a view to ensuring probity.
A representation has already been made to the proposed Consortium members by SLAJ for a review of the proposal in other to give the station national ownership and make its operations more transparent and accountable even though it has been met with stiff resistance. SLAJ however wishes to reaffirm that it will not relent; it will explore all legal avenues to ensure that this project is not funded from the Peacebuilding Fund or any other public fund until it reflects a truly national character involving all key stakeholders.
It is worth noting that the transformation of UN Radio into Radio Salone is in response to a UN Security Council Resolution mandating UNIOSIL to establish an independent national public radio that will continue to serve the people of Sierra Leone after conclusion of its mandate, with the proposed initial funding from the Peace-building Fund.
Meanwhile, a press conference will soon be convened to adopt a final position on this matter if the so-called Consortium members failed to address the previous concerns/demands of SLAJ already communicated to them.
SLAJ remains committed to any responsible arrangement geared towards advancing professionalism and the independent media.
……………………………….. Philip Neville 16/06/08 © Copyright by www.standardtimespress.net |