06/08/2024
SIERRA LEONE BROADCASTERS’ ASSOCIATION – SiLBA.
Transcript of the
US EMBASSY COURTESY STATEMENT
Delivered by Stanley Bangura, SiLBA Chairman – August 6, 2024
The Ambassador and other dignitaries present here this afternoon on this very significant visit, on behalf of the Executive and Members of the Sierra Leone Broadcasters’ Association (SiLBA), let me formally present our association to you and the Government and people of the United States.
SiLBA is a non-profit organization that was incorporated in Sierra Leone two year ago at the Corporate Affairs Commission to fill the gap for a vibrant national umbrella association for broadcasters, safeguard their rights, collective interests and welfare, and improve their professional welbeing and outputs. At this inception stage, we are comprised of 100 individual members and 40 Radio and TV Stations.
We envisions an inclusive, competitive, thriving, and sustainable media environment that addresses the needs, interests and welfare of broadcasters and electronic media institutions in Sierra Leone, with the highest level of professional standards.
With headquarters at 48 Jenner Wright Road, Upgun, Freetown, our mission is to promote unity, professionalism, cooperation, and best practices among broadcasters, safeguard their rights, collective interest, and welfare, and improve broadcasting standards in Sierra Leone and online through strategic programming, and gender sensitive and development-focused approaches.
SiLBA has broad based objectives. They include:
1. To seek and advance the interest and welfare of individual members and member associations
2. To serve as a forum to address critical national issues relating to broadcasting, including laws, policies, regulations, and advertising
3. To promote the need for a free and responsible press, broadcast media environment, and safeguard the safety of members
4. To advocate improvement of the quality and ensure sustainability and profitability of broadcasting institutions in the country.
5. To support initiatives aimed at encouraging content creation, collection and distribution, and technology innovation and ensuring that the stations serve their communities.
6. To advocate and secure training opportunities and programmes to help members grow in their careers and promote diversity in the workplace.
7. To network with other entities worldwide to ensure that the Association’s interests are acknowledged, respected and considered at local, national and international levels.
Questions might arise as to the relationship between SiLBA and other media and media-related organizations and stakeholders generally.
Let me cease this opportunity to categorically assure you that SiLBA is geared towards complementing the work and laudable achievements of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and its affiliates like the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU); the Independent Media Commission (IMC), and local and international media development partners like the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), Independent Radio Network (IRN), Guild of Editors, BBC Media Action, and Talking Drum Studio.
We are not competing with any of them in anyway and we are not rivals. We are marching towards the same destination using different routes.
On that note, let me reaffirm that we will continue to engage and work with Government, bilateral partners, media institutions, and media stakeholders at large, including seeking your guidance and support as we push towards that destination.
Our current priorities with the next one year are:
1. Securing a suitable office space
2. Creating an institutional website
3. Affiliation and cooperation with international like-minded organizations
4. Membership mobilization
5. Institutional capacity building through training, scholarships and fellowships
6. Securing grants for critical radio equipment pool
7. Project development and implementation including in the following areas:
a. Journalism in the digital age
b. Broadcast media and the emerging AI technology
c. Media management
d. Understanding Climate change and the role of the media in mitigation efforts
e. Training on radio profitability and the new media
f. Capacity building in financial and economic reporting for broadcast journalists.
His Excellency, as I take my seat, let me express my sincere thanks and appreciation to you and the Government and people of the United States for the support that you have been providing to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, including in the areas of media capacity building and personnel development.
I thank you!
