The key problems for the media sector were identified through interviews with managers and editors from more than 30 public, community and commercial media houses. The national commissions for Elections, Political Party Registration, Anti-Corruption, Human Rights, Democracy and Law Reform were interviewed to learn from the practices of similar bodies. The strategic possibilities were discussed with the media, politicians from the major political parties, the Deputy Minister of Information as well as the Parliamentary Committee for Information and Communication.

The vision for the media development strategy is to build a sustainable and diverse media sector whose professionalism contributes to strengthening the democracy and development of Sierra Leone.The strategy addresses four key priorities.

Key Priorities

1. Improve ethics of the media through regulatory or self-regulatory mechanisms

2. Strengthen independent allocation of licenses, handling of media complaints, and stimulating an enabling regulatory and political environment for professional and pluralistic media

3. Ensure sustainable and independent public service broadcasting serving all the people of the country

4. Strengthen capacity, professionalism and sustainability of private media organisations and practitioners

MRCG has been joining forces with stakeholders in pursuit of the achievement of these priorities.

We work towards a proposed chapter for inclusion in the national constitution that is now under review. We push for provisions pertaining to media freedom and independence and the consolidated laws governing the regulation of mass media institutions in Sierra Leone. This covers media ownership, licensing, registration, etc. and the protection and the true independence of the Independent Media Commission.

We also endeavor to establish a Center of Excellence for journalism education in Sierra Leone. The Center of Excellence is an outcome of a comprehensive review of the Mass Communication program at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. The Center will be a model academic program, committed to research and scholarship, symbolizing the best pedagogical and professional practices and aiming to produce students with exceptional skills as practicing media professionals and communication specialists.


MRCG creates a platform to support Alternative Media Systems in Sierra Leone. This system is a network of community radio stations using creative and innovative programming formats to capture the knowledge and narratives of the rural and urban poor as part of the conversations about social problems affecting them. For this system to function, we consider: Community Radio Broadcasting Network (IRN), National Newspaper Project and Enhancing the Efficiency of Public Service Broadcasting.

We provide Capacity Building Trajectories as a sustained series of programs, activities, and academic training to promote quality performance at media agencies and to support staff development at media organizations.

We support the widely acclaimed efforts towards the repeal of the 1965 public order act. The MRCG has proposed the draft Media Bill which is a culmination of several workshops, consultations and research nationwide on the media in Sierra Leone, and the call for the review of the existing media laws that guarantee freedom of speech and freedom of the press.