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News from the Field: Media empowerment advances national dialogue for better governance in Sierra Leone

Although Sierra Leone held successful elections in 2007, its democracy is still stabilizing. Long-term challenges such as poverty, corruption and human rights violations continue to impede and slow governance efforts. UNDEF supports a timely initiative by Journalists for Human Rights, or jhr, to strengthen local media and thereby facilitate a national dialogue between civil society, Government and citizens.

The innovative project includes monthly community forums bringing together journalists, civil society representatives and government officials to discuss concrete ways the local media can address and facilitate dialogue on specific local issues related to democracy and governance. Topics range from “The Public Role in the Development of Community Media” to “The Role of Editors in Shaping Content.” After each Forum, participants are asked for suggestions for future topics, allowing the stakeholders to shape the programming.

On completing one Forum, 96 per cent of participants said they had a greater understanding of the role of the media in democratic development, and 75 per cent found the forum encouraged them to be more involved in their local media. “I believe that the public will understand the issues more and participate more with more Forums,” said one. “The Forum was timely and necessary particularly dealing with human rights issues in a post-conflict country,” said another.