AYV News, June 12, 2024
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has acknowledged receipt of the annual Government Subvention for the year 2025. The amount received is NLe2,500,000(Two Million Five Hundred Thousand New Leones).
President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said the annual subvention is a fulfilment of a proclamation made by President Julius Maada Bio in 2018 as part of his commitment to supporting press freedom and media development in Sierra Leone. He said since then, successive subventions have been received and fully accounted for through appropriate budget submissions and independent audits by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.
President Monk said, “As a professional body of practicing journalists, SLAJ remains grateful for this financial support which helps us sustain our operations at national and regional levels, strengthen our structures and affiliate bodies, and implement critical activities including journalist safety and media freedom advocacy. Importantly, the elected officials who manage the affairs of SLAJ at national and regional levels are volunteers and do not receive salaries from the subvention”.
He said the Association is fully aware that each time itacknowledge this support, some critics seek to question itsindependence and suggest that the government has “bought the media.” For the record, he went on, SLAJ is not a media house and does not own or control any media outlet. “We do not dictate editorial policies or content. The independence of individual media institutions remains intact” he added.
As an Association, “our strategic partnership with the Government is focused solely on strengthening the media sector, enhancing professionalism, and promoting ethical and public-interest journalism. This does not compromise our role in defending press freedom, advocating for the safety and welfare of journalists, and standing for media accountability and responsibility”.
He assured that SLAJ maintains its independence, integrity, and continues to hold the government and all institutions to account in a responsible and professional manner.
“That said, it is the duty of media houses, not SLAJ, to investigate, report, and speak truth to power. SLAJ’s role is to create an enabling environment for them to do so, safely and ethically. Our membership remains voluntary, and we are proud of the diversity and strength of the journalists and media institutions that make up our Association. We thank the Government through the Ministry of Information and Civic Education for continuing this support, and we reassure the public of our unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the public good”.
