SLAJ has the opportunity to restore sanity The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is the parent body that is responsible to advocate for the welfare of journalists and for good journalism in the country. The 1991 constitution does not state who is qualified to practice journalism or not. Consequently, a lot of waste products from other professions end up in practicing journalism. Some people use the profession of journalism as a means to an end while some left the profession they studied at University and shoehorn themselves into the profession of journalism. Some are dropout from Secondary Schools and that the only thing they should engage in is journalism. Many people in the country who catapult themselves from journalism to either State House or other places did so through the blessing of journalism. My suggestion is, now that the constitutional review is about to kickoff, SLAJ and other people with integrity, I mean those who have a name to defend, should make serious input in the new constitution. There should be a laid down rule that anyone who wants or aspires to become a journalist should have at least a diploma in journalism. It is a fact that there are reckless journalists who have even degree in journalism but let there be a criteria to enter into the profession. Journalism is a profession like any other profession which needs a sober training before one engages in practicing it. There should also be continuous practices while in the profession. Nobody would just get up in the morning to engage in the medical field to do operation on people, nobody would get up in the morning to preside over cases in court. But alas, people would just jump into practicing journalism. If sanity is to prevail and be restored in the profession of journalism, the constitution should include some rules pertaining the entering into the field of journalism. In addition, the IMC should have been the perfect institution to help improve journalism in the country but the political interferences is not allowing them to do the right thing. There should be laws stopping the infiltrators coming with hiding agenda into the profession. That begs the question, how can you know a person with hiding agenda? Once more, SLAJ must make an input into the pending constitution by including among other things that any practicing journalist must have diploma in journalism not a doctor, engineer, business administrator or other qualifications from other professions .In Burundi, the Presidents has just signed a law which states that any practicing journalist must have at least diploma in Journalism. That must be replicated in Sierra Leone. I rest my case.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 22:33:34 +0000
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