The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has conducted induction training for its new members.
The induction ceremony took place on Monday 8th September 2024 at the SLAJ headquarters, Campbell Street in Freetown.
Making his statement, the former President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) who also serves as BBC correspondent in Sierra Leone, Umaru Fofana, talked at the program.
“There are various press organizations around the world based on qualifications like SLAJ” “Journalism is at the crossroad where social media has undermined the traditional media today, he said.”
However, he said, Sierra Leoneans should not be obliged to trust all news content from social media because of its nonprofessional attributes.
He maintained that journalists are more needed at this time than any other time.
He stated that social media in Sierra Leone is almost zero profitability and zero income for all users.
He said many nations like Kenya are making a lot of money through advertisements and by running other social media platforms.

He revealed that the Sierra Leone newspapers are going down in deficit because the employers are finding it very difficult in terms of getting advertisements a day.
He encouraged all journalists not to stay back though, “We need more journalists than any other time for now, ” Umaru Fofana said.
He encouraged journalists to hold their profession sacred and push for the right thing, adding that “don’t allow anyone to influence your story telling”.
He also urged young and new journalists to work for the progress of the association and urged them “not to be used by politicians” and be ready to work for the good of the nation.
A veteran journalist, Unisa Sesay, said he has been in profession for more than 50 years.
He said, for him, whatever qualifications people have they are welcome to serve in the journalism profession.
He urged the media not to compromise with standards, adding that if journalists are not careful enough, they could be easily “bought over” because of the bad economic situation in the country.
He urged trainees to develop themselves and work according to the ethics and code of conduct of SLAJ and the IMC, the Independent Media Commission Act.
The former SLAJ Presiden Mr. Kelvin X. Lewis said, traced SLAJ history that its formation started with a fight among members, adding that Sam Holist wrote an article against Sahr Milton Margai and he was jailed for that.
He said the journalists struggle with politicians is not only showing up now; it started yester years back.
He stated that Umaru Fofana started the fight on pushing for a repeal of the criminal Libel law but he did not succeed.
Mr Lewis said when he assumed Presidency he continued on that direction.
Lewis said he admired Christo Johnson because of his work over the years, adding that Christo had the opportunity to report for BBC.
He urged journalists to be careful and do their jobs perfectly.
“It is very difficult to practice journalism without being in jail or custody,” he said.
He revealed that SLAJ is fight against jailing journalists and today SLAJ will go to the police to seek bail for journalists that don’t follow the rules.
He urged all inductee not to come and destroyed the association and urged them to always make the association proud.
The current President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Sahid Nasrallah said SLAJ was founded on 24th June 1945.
He disclosed the list of both past and present SLAJ Presidents and how they contributed immensely to the development of the profession.
He said the mission of SLAJ is to defend freedom of the media, freedom of expression and media suppression.
He said SLAJ is formed to protect journalists and freedom of speech.
He further said that SLAJ is guided by the National constitution, SLAJ code of ethics and the IMC regulations for the media.
He also stated that SLAJ has internal structures to conduct democratic elections for its members, make complaints and on many other issues.
He spoke about affiliate bodies, veteran journalists association, WIMSAL, Court Reporters Union and the Parliamentary Press gallery and among many others.
He said every year SLAJ gets its AGM and it seeks to deliberate issues that have to do with development and progress of the profession.
He urged new journalists to be committed and work in the interest of the association.
He encouraged all the new recruits to attend the AGM in Bo City in the next few weeks.
He assured that the association will always be there to protect the interest of journalists and the profession.