BY: CHERNOR BAH, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND CIVIC EDUCATION
Distinguished members of the Fourth Estate, colleagues, friends,
Tonight is always special. The Presidential Media Cocktail is one of the few moments in our national calendar when we pause the noise of the news cycle and reflect—as partners—on the work we do for our country. His Excellency has always valued this fraternity not simply as observers of public life, but as participants in shaping our democracy.
Over the past year, we have made genuine progress together. We have expanded access to information; we have strengthened digital platforms; we have responded to crises with faster, clearer communication; and we have continued to open spaces for public dialogue. These gains matter. They build trust, and trust is the currency of governance.
But tonight, I also want us to confront a theme that is vital for the future of media in Sierra Leone.
“The premise of a free press is predicated on the promise of a responsible press.”
A European leader recently said this, and it stayed with me. Because historically, the privilege of press freedom came with an internal code that the fraternity fiercely protected.
Responsible journalism meant:
• You cross-checked your story before publishing.
• You did not go to print or publish until you had made every effort to obtain the other side.
• You protected your sources, yes—but you never hid behind anonymity to avoid accountability.
• You maintained an editorial process that asked the hard questions: Is this accurate? Is it fair? Is it balanced? What is the public interest served?
• Even partisan media understood limits—on national cohesion, on security, and on the sanctity of truth.
That internal discipline is what allowed the press to command public trust. It is what gave meaning to your freedoms. And it is what allowed the profession to stand as a moral compass in moments of national difficulty.
Today, the world has changed.
Technology has brought speed, but speed has become the enemy of verification.
Social media has brought voice, but voice now competes with noise.
The barriers to entry have fallen, but so have the standards.
In this new environment, your responsibility is even greater, not less.
I want to use this evening to issue a friendly but earnest challenge to our media community:
Recommit yourselves to the timeless principles of responsible journalism.
Reaffirm the values that built the credibility of this profession—accuracy, balance, fairness, and a duty to protect the national interest while holding power to account.
And second: modernize your fraternity.
Across the country, bloggers and digital creators now shape public opinion just as powerfully as legacy media. They are part of the information ecosystem whether we invite them or not.
Rather than dismissing them, I urge you to incorporate them, to professionalize them, to mentor them, and to ensure they operate under the same ethical standards that define credible journalism. Let us build a common culture of responsibility, so that Sierra Leone’s information space does not fragment into unchecked voices but matures into a unified, professional ecosystem.
The Ministry stands ready to work with you—through training programmes, through the new civic education frameworks, and through collaborative platforms that strengthen your role in our democracy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A free press is one of the greatest gifts of a democratic society. But like all great gifts, it requires stewardship. It requires discipline. And it requires a shared commitment to the public good.
Tonight, as we celebrate, I ask that we also renew that promise—to each other and to the people we serve.
Thank you, and enjoy the evening.
