Media in Sierra Leone began with the introduction of the first modern printing press in Africa at the start of the nineteenth century. In the 1860s the country became a journalist hub for Africa with professional travelling to the country from across the continent. At the end of the nineteenth century the industry went into decline and when radio was introduced in the 1930s this became the primary communication media in the country. Print media is not widely read in Sierra Leone, especially outside Freetown, partially due to the low levels of literacy in the country. There are 15 daily newspapers in the country as well as those published weekly. Among newspaper readership young people are likely to read newspapers weekly and older people daily. The majority of newspapers are privately run and are often critical of the government.
The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) was created by the government in 1934 making it the earliest English language radio broadcaster service in West Africa. ABC Television-Africa, the country's first independent television broadcaster was created in 2005 by Allieu M. Shaw. Radio is the most popular and most trusted media in Sierra Leone, with 85% of people having access to a radio and 72% of people in the country listening to the radio daily. Stations mainly consist of local commercial stations with a limited broadcast range combined with a few stations with national coverage. There are two national free terrestrial television stations in Sierra Leone but outside the capital Freetown television is not watched by a great many people. Internet access in Sierra Leone has been low but is on the increase, especially since the introduction of wireless services across the country.
The Sierra Leone constitution guarantees freedom of speech, and freedom of the press; however, the government maintains strong control of media, at times restricts these rights in practice. Some subjects are seen as taboo by society and members of the political elite, imprisonment and violence has been used by the political establishment against journalists. In 2006 President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah committed to reforming the laws governing the press and media to create a freer system for journalist to work in but in 2007 Sierra Leone was ranked as having the 121st least free press in the world. Sierra Leone has been featured in foreign media with coverage mainly focused on the country's civil war. Foreign media, particularly American gangsta rap had an influence on the combatants in the civil war particularly the West Side Boys.
History
The first modern printing press in Africa arrived in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1794 but this was destroyed by a French raiding party before it was ever used. Another press arrived in 1800 when the newspaper Sierra Leone Advertiser began being published. In the 1860’s Sierra Leone developed into African journalism’s hub with professional from all over Africa employed by the country’s newspapers. The media boom also had an international dimension with newspaper professionals from around the world settling in the country. For example, the New Era paper was setup by West Indian William Drake. The year 1855 saw the foundation of the African Interpreter and Advocate by F A Belgrave founded and of the Sierra Leone weekly by Charles Bannerman. In the period newspapers were politically outspoken covering topics including stories about racism, colonialism and the rights of Africans.
The media industry went into decline at the end of the nineteenth century due to low levels of sales, that was the main source of income for newspapers.
In 1934 the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) was formed from the Freetown Rediffusion Service making it the earliest English language radio broadcasting service in West Africa. Television broadcasting started in 1963 as a cooperation between the SLBS and commercial interests. Coverage was extended to all districts in 1978 when the service was also upgraded to colour.
Isaac Theophilus Akuna Wallace Johnson 1939 started the African Standard and in the same year the Daily Mail began. The Daily Mail was to become one of the longest running papers in the country finally closing in the late 1990s. It was the leading paper in the country from 1970 and early 1980s the Daily Mail. There were 31 newspapers registered with the government between 1939 and 1984. At the end of the twentieth century the newspaper industry experienced a decline with more than 40 newspapers ceasing publication between 1991 and 2007. This is also the time when newspapers developed in terms of business management, and when computers and mobile phones started to be used by journalist.
Newspapers
See also: List of newspapers in Sierra LeoneNewspapers are not a widely used medium especially outside Freetown with 15 daily newspapers operating in Sierra Leone. Dozens of newspapers are published in the country, most of them are privately run and are often critical of the government. The number of people reading newspaper is affected by low levels of literacy in the country. This is a particularly important factor for some sections of society, as only about half of women and older people are literate and literacy levels are lower outside Freetown. Among newspaper readership older people are more likely to read a paper daily and younger people to read weekly. People also trust the information published in newspapers less than that found on the radio.
The standard of print journalism is generally low, with some journalists lacking the training and skills they need to write, edit and disseminate information in print effectively.
Books
Although Sierra Leone had a long history of publishing and consuming books, the civil war altered this position. In 1982 there were three publishers in Sierra Leone, but 2002 there were no book publishers in Sierra Leone and only one bookshop, a church bookshop for in Christian literary material. Books of writers from Sierra Leone were still published but abroad. For example, Unanswered Cries by Osman Conteh won the 2002 Macmillan Writer's Prize for Africa, Children's Literature award. There are organisations, such as Sierra Leone PEN, who are trying to revitalise the sector.
Magazines
- The Cotton Tree Magazine
Broadcast
Radio
Radio is the most common and trusted media in Sierra Leone with 85% of people having access to the radio and 72% of people listening to the radio daily in 2007. The level of penetration of radio varies between districts from 96% in the urban part of the Western Area to 65% in Kailahun and is higher in the main towns then in rural areas. Peak times for listening to the radio are 6am-10am and 6pm-10pm. It is important to listeners that radio news is unbiased, accurate and trustworthy and is by far the most trusted media in Sierra Leone. News and music programmes are the most popular and is most people’s source of information about events that happen in the country including national elections. One of the most popular programmes is the soap opera Atunda Ayenda that is broadcast five days a week on 18 local stations. This is produced by Talking Drum Studios that was set-up by Search for Common Ground an international non-profit organization to produced programmes aimed at using the media to address the problems in Sierra Leone left by the civil war by promoting peace and reconciliation. Other media content produced includes Golden Kids News a program produced by young journalists that allows children to discuss topics of interest to them.
Stations
All major cities in the country run their own radio stations. There is a proliferation of local commercial radio stations with only a few national stations operating. The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Services (SLBS) operating under the government Ministry of Information and Broadcasting run station broadcasting on FM and short-wave. The station has a studio and transmitter in Freetown and regional headquarters in Bo, Makeni, Kenema.
The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) runs the station UN Radio on FM frequency 103.0, that broadcasts in languages including English, Krio, Temne, Limba and Mende. Content includes news of UN activities and human rights information, as well as music and news. It is the only station that broadcasts constantly and is one of the few stations with national geographical coverage. The UN missions will withdraw form Sierra Leone in 2008 making the future of the UN’s station uncertain.
There are also FM relays of BBC World Service, in Freetown on frequency 94.3, Bo 94.5 and Kenema 95.3, Radio France Internationale and Voice of America are available in Freetown.
List of radio stations
- SLBS - government-run national radio station, based in Freetown
- Capital Radio 104.9 - private station in Freetown
- Believer's Broadcasting Network (BBN) FM 93.0 - private station in Freetown
- Sky FM 106.6 - private station in Freetown
- Radio Democracy 98.1 - private station in Freetown
- Voice of the Handiccaped - private-run radio station for disabled but attracts audience nationwide
- UN Radio 10
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