Media and communication laws and regulations are the legal
frameworks that govern the use of media across the world. They aim
to protect freedom of expression and media freedom and regulate
media markets, ownership, infrastructure and technical
standards. They also seek to protect public interests such as media
pluralism and diversity. Media regulations can vary, depending on
the country, the type of media, and the purpose of the intervention.
They exist essentially for maintaining a vibrant, responsible, and
diverse media landscape that serves the public interest while
respecting individual rights and freedoms in Sierra Leone. They
reflect each country’s unique context, values, and priorities.
Balancing freedom of expression, public interest, and ethical
standards remain an ongoing challenge worldwide, and create a
framework that balances freedom, responsibility, and societal well
being, ultimately benefiting both media professionals and the public.
This compilation of media and communication laws and regulations
of Sierra Leone, the first produced by the MRCG, is one of the major
components in the Media Development Strategy of the MRCG
(2019-2024) supported by the National Endowment for Democracy
(NED) in the United States of America (USA). The compilation was
mainly done to assist journalists, media workers, media stakeholders
and researchers with a single document containing media and
communication laws and regulations in Sierra Leone.
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