Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) and the Paradigm Initiative (PIN) have on June 23, 2025, hosted a pivotal workshop aimed at bolstering media integrity, protecting press freedom, and enhancing the understanding of digital rights among media practitioners.
Held at the New Brookfields Hotel, the one-day training attracted over 40 journalists and media professionals who engaged in discussions on digital rights, data protection, and cybersecurity.
Dr. Francis Sowa, National Coordinator of MRCG, opened the workshop by highlighting the significance of digital security in the context of press freedom. He stated, “Today’s training aims to enhance journalists’ understanding of digital security in the context of press freedom.”
Dr. Sowa emphasised the necessity for journalists to be aware of the digital threats they face in their work and praised the collaboration with Paradigm Initiative for bringing this essential training to Sierra Leone.
The Regional Lead for the Anglophone region at Paradigm Initiative, Khadija El-Usman, reinforced the importance of the training in her opening remarks. She asserted the fundamental human right to express oneself securely and without fear, stating that “access to the internet should not be a privilege but a right.”
El-Usman further described the training as critical for empowering journalists to participate in democratic practices while safeguarding themselves from potential surveillance and harassment.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in critical discussions about the current state of digital rights and explored strategies to combat online harassment and violations. The workshop provided a platform for journalists to collaborate on creating actionable plans that prioritise the protection of their rights and the rights of the public in the digital realm.At the end of the workshop, the attendees collaboratively drafted and signed a communique. The statement highlighted the main challenges that media professionals face in the digital world in Sierra Leone and included important requests, which will be sent to the relevant authorities.
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