By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla has called on Media Houses to sensitize voters in the upcoming June elections by providing accurate, balanced, and factual information.
He made this call during the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s (SLBA) Annual General Meeting at Fabulous Resort, York Village, Western Rural District.
His round table discussion focused on: "The role of the media in ensuring free, fair, non-violent Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24th June 2023."
Nasralla told the SLBA executive how both bodies have had a long-standing trusted friendship with SLAJ, dating back from the 1970s to date. He recalled his statement at their last AGM that due to the relationship between the two professions, they are now becoming so inextricably tied that there are now members on both sides.
“So, in the not-too-distant future, we will have a member of SLAJ elected President of the Bar, and a member of the Bar becoming President of SLAJ,” he said.
He underscored that free, fair, and non-violent elections is critical to the development of any democratic society and that modern democracies have succeeded or failed depending on how free, fair, peaceful, and credible their elections have been. He stated that elections are a fundamental aspect of democracy that provides citizens with the power to elect their leaders and hold them accountable.
Nasralla noted that free, fair, and non-violent elections, start with information about elections and that if it is not correct or credible, the outcome will also not be credible. He said citizens need the right information to help them make informed choices about who should lead them.
“To ensure free, fair, and non-violent elections also requires all stakeholders to play their roles professionally and effectively. One of the critical stakeholders in this regard is the media, whose role cannot be overemphasized,” he said.
He pointed out that, the role of the media is to provide accurate and unbiased information to citizens about the elections, serving as a watchdog during the electioneering period by monitoring the electoral process and reporting irregularities, thereby promoting transparency and accountability.
The SLAJ boss recalled instances of media intimidation, harassment, and censorship by the government, security forces, and political parties and their fanatic supporters. He referenced the 2018 elections which he said had cases of hate speech, fake news, and incitement to violence by some media outlets, which contributed to the tense atmosphere and electoral disputes.
He narrated the challenges faced by the traditional or legacy media due to the advent of social media he said the traditional media has no control over content creation as anyone with a smartphone can now easily create their own content and post on the information highway.
He went on to say that, issues of fake news, disinformation, propaganda, hate speech, and inciteful messages are commonplace in this new and diverse space, thereby confusing the voters on what to believe and not to believe.
Nasralla advised media houses to avoid sensationalism, propaganda, and hate speech that could incite violence, discrimination, or prejudice against any group or individual. He spoke about promoting ethical standards and professional conduct among journalists, editors, and media owners, through training on ethics, and self-regulation mechanisms.
He admonished journalists to monitor and report on electoral irregularities, malpractices, and violence, with due diligence and impartiality, to help prevent or redress any violations of the law or human rights.
He said journalists should collaborate with the Electoral Management Body, Civil Society, and other stakeholders to promote a peaceful and inclusive electoral environment, through public debates, voter education, and conflict prevention initiatives.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (22/03/23)
