The Independent Media Commission (IMC) over the weekend awarded a total of twenty-five journalists for excellence in various categories during its 6th Annual National Media Awards amongst which were two senior reporters of the Awoko Newspaper. A total of 225 entries were received from 75 applicants.
Saidu Bah who has won the media awards for the five times came on again to bag the award for best reporting on the Environment, while his colleague, Betty Milton took two awards; one for best report on Human Right and as the most prestigious, best female Journalist of the year 2011.
The award ceremony is the flagship activity of the country’s media regulatory body the Independent Media Commission (IMC) in recognition of professional journalistic work and to motivate others to practice responsible journalism.
Betty Milton said the Best Female Award is a motivation for her to be more committed to practicing responsible journalism, and that it will also serve as motivation to many her colleague female journalists. “I now stand as a motivator and a mentor to my colleagues especially the young ones coming into the profession,” Miss Milton said.
She also said this shows that whatever one does he/she has to be commitment and dedication “and there is always someone out there who is watching the things you do. So whatever you do put on your best so that it will come out right,” she admonished.
The ace reporter has dedicated her Best Human Rights Reporting award to the workers on the Wilkinson Road construction project, whom she described as “going through deplorable working conditions for the development of the country.” She called on the contractor and indeed the government, to look into their plight and the plights of all workers whose conditions of service are deplorable.
Betty Milton also dedicated her second award, Best Female Reporter, to the management and staff of the Awoko Newspaper for what she noted is, “their moral and technical support.”
Saidu Bah whose best report on the environment award was received in his absence thanked the IMC for recognizing his efforts once again, and called on colleague journalists to practice professional journalism in a bid to provide society with accurate information that are factual and balanced and that are in the public interest. He warned against what he called “reckless journalism”, noting that this type of journalism no longer has place in civilized societies such as Sierra Leone.
Saidu Bah who has won the awards for the fifth time in a row has dedicated this year’s award to press freedom in Sierra Leone, expressing his hope for an environment where journalists would practice their profession that is free from intimidation and the threat of archaic draconian laws and where journalists would have access to vital information that are in the public interest.
Bah also implored the government of Sierra Leone to ensure the passing of the Freedom of Information Bill (FOI) as a tool for the promotion of transparency, accountability and good governance. He noted that the FOI Bill is not only good for journalists but for civil society organizations and all those who may interested in accessing public information be it for personal research or for use in the public interest.
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