Promoting Professionalism and Integrity: SLAJ President Manika Kamara's Vision for the Media

Newly elected SLAJ President Manika Kamara emphasises the imperative for media practitioners to prioritise professionalism and safeguard the integrity of the fourth estate.

President Alhaji Manika Kamara, elected on June 14th at the Bintumani Conference Centre, has designated leadership by example as his primary agenda in office, in a statement given to SKB (Sarah Kallay Blog). He underscored the paramount importance of upholding professionalism in journalistic endeavours to preserve press freedom, enhance member welfare, and rigorously defend the esteemed role of journalists.

He encapsulated these sentiments with the statement: "This is not merely my triumph; it is SLAJ’s victory—a testament to unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of press freedom in Sierra Leone."

Furthermore, he asserted that the recently concluded elections of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists exemplified the much-discussed necessity for democracy, characterised by a rigorous campaign of debates and lobbying, and a gracious concession from the opposing candidate.

He acknowledged the substantial contributions and oversight provided by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists’ Electoral Commission (SLAJEC), the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), the National Elections Watch (NEW), and other independent observers.

He articulated his hope that the conduct of this election would serve as an inspiration for other organizations to emulate its fairness and its immunity from partisan political influence.