THE JOINT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION (IMC): A CASE OF THE COW AND THE ROPE By George S. Khoryama The Independent Media Commission established by an Act of Parliament, 2000 including Amendments of 2006 and 2007 and proposed amendment in 2011 “was established as an autonomous body for the regulation of mass media institutions and for other matters concerned.” Among a myriad of functions, “the IMC is to promote a free and pluralistic media throughout Sierra Leone; to ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services; to protect both the interest of the public and journalists against any form of exploitation or abuse; to ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it.” “It shall be the function of the Commission to establish a Complaints Committee which shall be responsible for enquiring into complaints against the contravention of the Media Code of Practice and for settlement of disputes between the public and media institutions.” It goes on to state that “failure by media institutions to comply with the accuracy, balance and credibility requirements in the Media Code of Practice will result in a fine of Le1,000,000 (One Million Leones. Suspension will follow if the fine is not paid within 30 working days.” POLITICAL WILL Like all other laws of the land including the national constitution now under review, Sierra Leone could be prided with some of the best laws in the books. The frame of mind and intelligence of the drafters of these laws were/are nothing short of remarkable and commendable. And the nation has never been in short demand of those talented men and women. However, the political will of our leaders, politicians and most courts of jurisdiction of the land to have those laws applied to the letter without fear or favour is more often than not, anyone’s figment of imagination. More so, the blatant disregards of these laws by individuals because of their political connections and affiliations, and the undue selective justice dispensed by the very law enforcement officers have only made those laws mere paper tigers. SHOCK ABSORBER The Independent Media Commission among other state institutions comes handy in the category of those that were established on the premise of great ideals but which powers of authority and autonomy still remain very much on paper. It is a case of offering someone a cow while still holding on to the rope tied on the beast. The establishment of the IMC came to serve as a ‘shock-absorber’ institution between the media and the public it serves with the view to improving and minimizing the excesses of the former; and to forestall possible legal proceedings against wayward media practitioners. As an autonomous institution it is supposed to be accountable to no other authority but to the dictates of the Articles that established the Commission in the first place, and to the consciences of the Chairman and commissioners. CAUSE CELEBRE However, to what extent the IMC has been autonomous to effectively serve its constituted purpose has become a matter of public concern. A cause célèbre in this respect came to the fore in the matter involving the IMC and a privately-owned radio station - Afri-radio owned by Africell Company, one of the mobile phone network providers in the country. Two other privately-owned radio station managements believed to be very influential at the seat of power had filed a complaint to the IMC against Afri-radio on the ground that it (Afri-Radio), was not supposed to operate a radio station because of their undue advantages over other radio stations. THE BANG The IMC in response reacted firmly that the Afri-Radio had fulfilled all their requirements to operate the station and therefore, had no case to answer. But that position of the IMC was short-lived as it was countered by a directive from the office of the Minster of Information and Communication ordering the IMC to close down the Afri-Radio station forthwith, which directive the IMC did not carry out. Then came the bang: The IMC Chairman and his Commissioners were invited to State House where they were told to go and close the radio station pronto. The directive was carried and the case was closed; Afri-Radio is no more. PROFANITIES Earlier, the IMC had ordered the suspension of the Awareness Times, Independent Observer and The Senator newspapers for breaching the professional codes of ethics, pending satisfactory conclusion of the complaints filed against the respective media houses. The Independent Observer and The Senator newspaper managements obeyed the order and remained suspended; whilst The Awareness Times defiantly continued to publish, and went on to file an injunction against the IMC. To the day of this writing the case continues to rot and collect worms in court while The Awareness Times continues not only to publish, but for the publisher to habitually vent nasty profanities at the Chairman and Commissioners with impunity. Of course, the other two newspapers also resumed publications. SUB JUDICE The authority of the IMC continues to be undermined by some of the very media houses whose interest it serves as to render the commission hopeless and ineffective. There are files of cases at the Commission against some of these media houses which had never been attended to because of lack of cooperation, especially from those that are close to the proximity of power. These few opportunistic pro-government journalists are so powerful that the IMC code of ethics that affect their colleagues is spurned by them with insults. For instance, they could run series of comments in their newspapers and radio stations on cases that are sub-judice without being summoned by the very law courts; the Commission invites and/or fines them for breach of ethics but they refuse to honour it because of their connections. In the face of such impunity the IMC only looks ridiculous because they do not have the prosecutorial power to pursue their cases further. Little wonder the independent newspapers are also on the verge of estranging the commission; after all they should not always be the whipping boys. RESIGNATION It has occurred that in the present dispensation the laws of the IMC know no bounds beyond the interest and dictates of the powers-that-be and their propagandists despite the intentions of the very laws for justice and fair play. The current of politics that has today swept all public institutions including those of learning, civic organizations and even private matters under their feet has left the IMC a bad image. Some members of the public in careless abandon refer to it as a toothless bull dog that does not bite but only barks. Others even offer bits of over simplistic, unsolicited and insensitive calling on the Chairman and his Commissioners to resign as to suggest that they are responsible for the demoralization of the institution. But why should they resign while others in similarly politicized and demoralized institutions of government remain in office? How many Sierra Leoneans in the history of our country that had ever called it quits from public offices even when the reason is justified or not? Granted that they stand on moral ground and resign; will that make any difference in the affairs of the institution while the same powers-that-be and their agents of guile are still very much around? A COW The Commissioners by no fault of theirs find themselves working under a situation that they did not create; few people can envy them. They were given a cow to take home but with the giver still holding on to the rope tied on the beast, how can they carry it? Their best consolation however is in the words of Prof. Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire: “The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problem, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.” THE JOINT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION (IMC): A CASE OF THE COW AND THE ROPE By George S. Khoryama The Independent Media Commission established by an Act of Parliament, 2000 including Amendments of 2006 and 2007 and proposed amendment in 2011 “was established as an autonomous body for the regulation of mass media institutions and for other matters concerned.” Among a myriad of functions, “the IMC is to promote a free and pluralistic media throughout Sierra Leone; to ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services; to protect both the interest of the public and journalists against any form of exploitation or abuse; to ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it.” “It shall be the function of the Commission to establish a Complaints Committee which shall be responsible for enquiring into complaints against the contravention of the Media Code of Practice and for settlement of disputes between the public and media institutions.” It goes on to state that “failure by media institutions to comply with the accuracy, balance and credibility requirements in the Media Code of Practice will result in a fine of Le1,000,000 (One Million Leones. Suspension will follow if the fine is not paid within 30 working days.” POLITICAL WILL Like all other laws of the land including the national constitution now under review, Sierra Leone could be prided with some of the best laws in the books. The frame of mind and intelligence of the drafters of these laws were/are nothing short of remarkable and commendable. And the nation has never been in short demand of those talented men and women. However, the political will of our leaders, politicians and most courts of jurisdiction of the land to have those laws applied to the letter without fear or favour is more often than not, anyone’s figment of imagination. More so, the blatant disregards of these laws by individuals because of their political connections and affiliations, and the undue selective justice dispensed by the very law enforcement officers have only made those laws mere paper tigers. SHOCK ABSORBER The Independent Media Commission among other state institutions comes handy in the category of those that were established on the premise of great ideals but which powers of authority and autonomy still remain very much on paper. It is a case of offering someone a cow while still holding on to the rope tied on the beast. The establishment of the IMC came to serve as a ‘shock-absorber’ institution between the media and the public it serves with the view to improving and minimizing the excesses of the former; and to forestall possible legal proceedings against wayward media practitioners. As an autonomous institution it is supposed to be accountable to no other authority but to the dictates of the Articles that established the Commission in the first place, and to the consciences of the Chairman and commissioners. CAUSE CELEBRE However, to what extent the IMC has been autonomous to effectively serve its constituted purpose has become a matter of public concern. A cause célèbre in this respect came to the fore in the matter involving the IMC and a privately-owned radio station - Afri-radio owned by Africell Company, one of the mobile phone network providers in the country. Two other privately-owned radio station managements believed to be very influential at the seat of power had filed a complaint to the IMC against Afri-radio on the ground that it (Afri-Radio), was not supposed to operate a radio station because of their undue advantages over other radio stations. THE BANG The IMC in response reacted firmly that the Afri-Radio had fulfilled all their requirements to operate the station and therefore, had no case to answer. But that position of the IMC was short-lived as it was countered by a directive from the office of the Minster of Information and Communication ordering the IMC to close down the Afri-Radio station forthwith, which directive the IMC did not carry out. Then came the bang: The IMC Chairman and his Commissioners were invited to State House where they were told to go and close the radio station pronto. The directive was carried and the case was closed; Afri-Radio is no more. PROFANITIES Earlier, the IMC had ordered the suspension of the Awareness Times, Independent Observer and The Senator newspapers for breaching the professional codes of ethics, pending satisfactory conclusion of the complaints filed against the respective media houses. The Independent Observer and The Senator newspaper managements obeyed the order and remained suspended; whilst The Awareness Times defiantly continued to publish, and went on to file an injunction against the IMC. To the day of this writing the case continues to rot and collect worms in court while The Awareness Times continues not only to publish, but for the publisher to habitually vent nasty profanities at the Chairman and Commissioners with impunity. Of course, the other two newspapers also resumed publications. SUB JUDICE The authority of the IMC continues to be undermined by some of the very media houses whose interest it serves as to render the commission hopeless and ineffective. There are files of cases at the Commission against some of these media houses which had never been attended to because of lack of cooperation, especially from those that are close to the proximity of power. These few opportunistic pro-government journalists are so powerful that the IMC code of ethics that affect their colleagues is spurned by them with insults. For instance, they could run series of comments in their newspapers and radio stations on cases that are sub-judice without being summoned by the very law courts; the Commission invites and/or fines them for breach of ethics but they refuse to honour it because of their connections. In the face of such impunity the IMC only looks ridiculous because they do not have the prosecutorial power to pursue their cases further. Little wonder the independent newspapers are also on the verge of estranging the commission; after all they should not always be the whipping boys. RESIGNATION It has occurred that in the present dispensation the laws of the IMC know no bounds beyond the interest and dictates of the powers-that-be and their propagandists despite the intentions of the very laws for justice and fair play. The current of politics that has today swept all public institutions including those of learning, civic organizations and even private matters under their feet has left the IMC a bad image. Some members of the public in careless abandon refer to it as a toothless bull dog that does not bite but only barks. Others even offer bits of over simplistic, unsolicited and insensitive calling on the Chairman and his Commissioners to resign as to suggest that they are responsible for the demoralization of the institution. But why should they resign while others in similarly politicized and demoralized institutions of government remain in office? How many Sierra Leoneans in the history of our country that had ever called it quits from public offices even when the reason is justified or not? Granted that they stand on moral ground and resign; will that make any difference in the affairs of the institution while the same powers-that-be and their agents of guile are still very much around? A COW The Commissioners by no fault of theirs find themselves working under a situation that they did not create; few people can envy them. They were given a cow to take home but with the giver still holding on to the rope tied on the beast, how can they carry it? Their best consolation however is in the words of Prof. Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire: “The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problem, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.” THE JOINT THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION (IMC): A CASE OF THE COW AND THE ROPE By George S. Khoryama The Independent Media Commission established by an Act of Parliament, 2000 including Amendments of 2006 and 2007 and proposed amendment in 2011 “was established as an autonomous body for the regulation of mass media institutions and for other matters concerned.” Among a myriad of functions, “the IMC is to promote a free and pluralistic media throughout Sierra Leone; to ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services; to protect both the interest of the public and journalists against any form of exploitation or abuse; to ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it.” “It shall be the function of the Commission to establish a Complaints Committee which shall be responsible for enquiring into complaints against the contravention of the Media Code of Practice and for settlement of disputes between the public and media institutions.” It goes on to state that “failure by media institutions to comply with the accuracy, balance and credibility requirements in the Media Code of Practice will result in a fine of Le1,000,000 (One Million Leones. Suspension will follow if the fine is not paid within 30 working days.” POLITICAL WILL Like all other laws of the land including the national constitution now under review, Sierra Leone could be prided with some of the best laws in the books. The frame of mind and intelligence of the drafters of these laws were/are nothing short of remarkable and commendable. And the nation has never been in short demand of those talented men and women. However, the political will of our leaders, politicians and most courts of jurisdiction of the land to have those laws applied to the letter without fear or favour is more often than not, anyone’s figment of imagination. More so, the blatant disregards of these laws by individuals because of their political connections and affiliations, and the undue selective justice dispensed by the very law enforcement officers have only made those laws mere paper tigers. SHOCK ABSORBER The Independent Media Commission among other state institutions comes handy in the category of those that were established on the premise of great ideals but which powers of authority and autonomy still remain very much on paper. It is a case of offering someone a cow while still holding on to the rope tied on the beast. The establishment of the IMC came to serve as a ‘shock-absorber’ institution between the media and the public it serves with the view to improving and minimizing the excesses of the former; and to forestall possible legal proceedings against wayward media practitioners. As an autonomous institution it is supposed to be accountable to no other authority but to the dictates of the Articles that established the Commission in the first place, and to the consciences of the Chairman and commissioners. CAUSE CELEBRE However, to what extent the IMC has been autonomous to effectively serve its constituted purpose has become a matter of public concern. A cause célèbre in this respect came to the fore in the matter involving the IMC and a privately-owned radio station - Afri-radio owned by Africell Company, one of the mobile phone network providers in the country. Two other privately-owned radio station managements believed to be very influential at the seat of power had filed a complaint to the IMC against Afri-radio on the ground that it (Afri-Radio), was not supposed to operate a radio station because of their undue advantages over other radio stations. THE BANG The IMC in response reacted firmly that the Afri-Radio had fulfilled all their requirements to operate the station and therefore, had no case to answer. But that position of the IMC was short-lived as it was countered by a directive from the office of the Minster of Information and Communication ordering the IMC to close down the Afri-Radio station forthwith, which directive the IMC did not carry out. Then came the bang: The IMC Chairman and his Commissioners were invited to State House where they were told to go and close the radio station pronto. The directive was carried and the case was closed; Afri-Radio is no more. PROFANITIES Earlier, the IMC had ordered the suspension of the Awareness Times, Independent Observer and The Senator newspapers for breaching the professional codes of ethics, pending satisfactory conclusion of the complaints filed against the respective media houses. The Independent Observer and The Senator newspaper managements obeyed the order and remained suspended; whilst The Awareness Times defiantly continued to publish, and went on to file an injunction against the IMC. To the day of this writing the case continues to rot and collect worms in court while The Awareness Times continues not only to publish, but for the publisher to habitually vent nasty profanities at the Chairman and Commissioners with impunity. Of course, the other two newspapers also resumed publications. SUB JUDICE The authority of the IMC continues to be undermined by some of the very media houses whose interest it serves as to render the commission hopeless and ineffective. There are files of cases at the Commission against some of these media houses which had never been attended to because of lack of cooperation, especially from those that are close to the proximity of power. These few opportunistic pro-government journalists are so powerful that the IMC code of ethics that affect their colleagues is spurned by them with insults. For instance, they could run series of comments in their newspapers and radio stations on cases that are sub-judice without being summoned by the very law courts; the Commission invites and/or fines them for breach of ethics but they refuse to honour it because of their connections. In the face of such impunity the IMC only looks ridiculous because they do not have the prosecutorial power to pursue their cases further. Little wonder the independent newspapers are also on the verge of estranging the commission; after all they should not always be the whipping boys. RESIGNATION It has occurred that in the present dispensation the laws of the IMC know no bounds beyond the interest and dictates of the powers-that-be and their propagandists despite the intentions of the very laws for justice and fair play. The current of politics that has today swept all public institutions including those of learning, civic organizations and even private matters under their feet has left the IMC a bad image. Some members of the public in careless abandon refer to it as a toothless bull dog that does not bite but only barks. Others even offer bits of over simplistic, unsolicited and insensitive calling on the Chairman and his Commissioners to resign as to suggest that they are responsible for the demoralization of the institution. But why should they resign while others in similarly politicized and demoralized institutions of government remain in office? How many Sierra Leoneans in the history of our country that had ever called it quits from public offices even when the reason is justified or not? Granted that they stand on moral ground and resign; will that make any difference in the affairs of the institution while the same powers-that-be and their agents of guile are still very much around? A COW The Commissioners by no fault of theirs find themselves working under a situation that they did not create; few people can envy them. They were given a cow to take home but with the giver still holding on to the rope tied on the beast, how can they carry it? Their best consolation however is in the words of Prof. Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire: “The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problem, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.”
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 15:01:50 +0000
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