The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) with support from the African Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) kicks off a fellowship on reporting Transitional Justice (TJ) issues in the country. The fellowship which started with a brief orientation on 24 January 2025, is set to take twenty (20) dedicated reporters from across the country on a six (6) months course (February to July 2025), with a component of mentorship. This six-month initiative, supported by ATJLF, aims to enhance transitional justice reporting by equipping journalists with the skills necessary for impactful storytelling on justice and reconciliation issues.
The orientation meeting gathered mentors, mentees, and the MRCG team, while participants from the provinces joined through a Zoom link. MRCG’s head of Programs, Augustine James, explained the importance of the program, stating that this was an opportunity for the reporters to shed light on existing TJ mechanisms in the country and remind stakeholders on the importance of sustaining TJ mechanisms. Dr. Francis Sowa, MRCG’s National Coordinator underscored the deliberate commitment towards responsible resource utilization and ensures sustainability of TJ initiatives. He added that the ATJLF is a dedicated organization based in Ghana but working with different organizations across Africa on TJ initiatives. He ended encouraging all fellows to give their best, as this would be an opportunity for their TJ stories to be published both at national and internation levels.
Four selected experienced mentors shared insights from past programs, identifying challenges such as time constraints and lack of commitment. Mr. Kemo Cham recommended involving editors to support mentees, while Mr. John Whitfield underscored the program’s role in improving career prospects. Other mentors, including Mr. Joshua Nicol and Mr. Jones, emphasized the importance of quality reporting in shaping public discourse on transitional justice.
The discussion categorized the roles where mentees were anticipated to participate in all training sessions, complete investigative stories and mentors would supervise and critique. The orientation focused on recommendations such as nurturing communication, providing institutional support, and constant monitoring of fellows’ activity.
The MRCG/ATJLF Mentorship Program is set to transform transitional justice reporting in Sierra Leone by fostering a new generation of journalists dedicated to ethical and impactful journalism.
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