Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) announced on June 10, 2025, that it has received an annual government subvention of SLE 2,500,000 (two million five hundred thousand new Leones) for the year 2025.
This funding is part of a commitment made by President Julius Maada Bio in 2018 to support press freedom and media development in Sierra Leone.
In its press release, SLAJ highlighted that since the inception of this subvention, it has been received and accounted for through appropriate budget submissions and independent audits conducted by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.
SLAJ expressed gratitude for the financial support, which is crucial for sustaining its operations at both national and regional levels. The funding also aids in strengthening structures and implementing key initiatives, including journalist safety and media freedom advocacy. The elected officials managing SLAJ are volunteers and do not receive salaries from this subvention.
The association addressed concerns from critics who question its independence, clarifying that SLAJ is not a media house and does not control any media outlet or dictate editorial policies. Instead, its strategic partnership with the government focuses on enhancing the media sector, promoting professionalism, and advocating for ethical journalism.
The association emphasized that it is the responsibility of individual media houses to investigate and report, while SLAJ’s role is to create a safe and ethical environment for them to operate.
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