BY EDWARD MARAH -A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE YOUNG
INTRODUCTION
In the Name of God Almighty; and with humility and candor, I present myself to the August body of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and its noble membership as a Candidate for National Secretary General in the forthcoming Triennial that is also duly slated for the election of the next set of Executive officials to administer our beloved Association for the next three years.
I am premising my candidacy and my appeal for your consideration and your solemn votes, on my strong pedigree of unblemished service and dedication to our SLAJ spanning over two decades.
For me, this is a call to service, a call to reinforce my longstanding dedication to SLAJ, an association of equals and an assembly of citizens who have collectively dedicated their services to ensuring the information, entertainment, and education of our compatriots across the nation, on what they should know and enjoy in real-time.
Indeed, our presence and our voices and writings are felt all over the country and even beyond in ensuring those objectives.
I am no stranger in the service to SLAJ; having done so in several capacities, including as National Publicity Secretary. I am aware of the workload involved as Secretary General, I am conscious of the need to be focused and dedicated and I am aware of the centrality of the office in ensuring an impactful SLAJ.
I pledge to give my all, my time, my service, and my knowledge to deliver on my promises to you my cherished colleagues, and to assure you as your Secretary General, that I will work steadfastly with the President and the rest of the Executive both at national and regional levels to better the standing of our beloved association both in defense of press freedom and expression and in advocacy on issues of national interest.
I envisage bringing to the SLAJ Secretariat P-R-I-D-E:
Productivity;
Respectability;
Integrity;
Dedication and
Excellence.
PROFILE
Edward Marah has been a practicing Journalist for twenty-five years with an unblemished and unquestionable character.
He began his Journalism career as a Cub Reporter with the Weekend Spark Newspaper in 2001. He briefly worked with the Wisdom Newspaper and later for the Standard-Times Newspapers as a Senior Staff Writer and would change hands simultaneously to serve as Producer and Presenter at Star Radio, also owned by the Standard-Times Newspaper management.
In 2013, he resigned from Standard Times and established The Informant Media, a consortium of Newspapers, media production, event management, public relations, and media consultancy.
MEMBERSHIP OF MEDIA ORGANISATIONS
He was a founding and executive member of the following organizations: the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association (HARA), Journalists Monitoring Rural Development (JOMORD), Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), the Court Reporters Association, the Parliamentary Press Gallery and Guild of Editors Sierra Leone
EXECUTIVE MEDIA WORK EXPERIENCES
Public Relations Officer HIV/AIDS Reporters Association
Public Relations Officer Sierra Leone Reporters Union
Public Affairs Secretary Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ)
Secretary General-Network of African Journalists (NAJ).
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
He has received several awards and recognitions including:
√ Awarded by the Center for Global Young Leadership in Accra, Ghana, for his youthful leadership on the African Continent.
√ On 20th November 2008: Awarded by Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) with a Certificate in recognition of his invaluable service to the operations of the organization.
√On 15th March, 2008: Awarded with a Certificate by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) in recognition and in appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the development of the media in Sierra Leone.
√ On 5th June 2021: Awarded with the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Golden Jubilee Certificate in Special Recognition for his contributions to the development of SLAJ.
EDUCATION
Edward Marah holds a Certificate and a diploma in Journalism;
A Bachelor’s Degree in Development Studies;
A Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership;
Currently pursuing another Master’s Degree in Media Studies at the Mass Communications Department of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO SLAJ AND MEDIA DEVELOPMENT IN SIERRA LEONE
1: Supported and contributed to the decentralization of SLAJ that has ensured nationwide membership in the Association, also culminating in the establishment of SLAJ regional memberships and offices;
2: He was a founding member of Journalists Monitoring Rural Development (JOMORD)-established in the immediate aftermath of the civil war to monitor and report on the development needs of rural communities and the roles of Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) and local and international Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) thereof;
3. Foundation member in the establishment of the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association (HARA) to coordinate media advocacy in the fight against HIV-AIDS and as a way to complement Government’s in the fight against the spread of the scourge;
4.. Foundation Member in the establishment of the Sierra Leone Reporter’s Union (SLRU) to advocate for the welfare of Media Reporters across the country;
5. Supported the establishment of Women in the Media in Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) in collaboration with the Iranian Embassy to support female journalists in the country in advocating for their rights and protection.
MY VISION FOR THE SLAJ SECRETARIAT
I will be a hands-on-deck National Secretary General with a full-time working presence at the Secretariat in fulfillment of my P-R-I-D-E Initiative viz:
1. To provide an effective and efficient functioning secretariat that would be run on a day-to-day basis throughout the working week;
2. To work with the National Executive to develop a comprehensive membership database, introduce an Association Identification System with a National Association Biometric Identification Card that will carry a serial Association Identification Number (AIN) for every registered SLAJ member;
3. In collaboration with colleagues in the Executive, I will ensure the issuance of real-time information, responses, and reactions in the event of an attack on a bonafide member in the course of executing his or her journalistic work within the ambits of the SLAJ Code of Ethics and the Independent Media Commission Codes of Practice, in defense of that colleague’s right to freedom expression as guaranteed by our National Constitution and International Human Rights Treaties;
4: I will work to support the fostering of relationships with existing development partners that support the development of Journalists and the progress of journalism in Sierra Leone;
5: I will work towards ensuring equal opportunities for all SLAJ members irrespective of gender, age, or disabilities;
6: I will work to solidify existing fraternal relationships with all SLAJ affiliate bodies;
7. I will work to promote and enhance an effective and efficient record-keeping system that is transparent and accountably responsive;
8. I will work to promote peace, unity, and respect among members;
9. I will work to strengthen the cordial working relationships with our local and international partners including the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Chinese Embassy, the United States Embassy, the British Council, the European Union, the Egyptian Embassy, Iranian Embassy;
10. I will work to build on the existing fraternal partnerships with international media organizations such as the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA), Union of African Journalists (UAJ), Journalists for Freedom of Expression (JFE), Canadian Journalists Union (CJU), and the Network of African Journalists (NAJ), among others.
11. I will work with the executive in securing land for the construction of the SLAJ headquarters and permanent secretariat;
12. I will work with the executive to establish an emergency call line for members/Journalists whose lives and freedoms may be under threat or is in danger while in the discharge of their duties.
13. I will work with the executive to initiate a Welfare Trust Fund to especially cater for the welfare of veteran colleagues.
14. I will work with the executive to enhance bilateral relationships with like-minded international organizations with whom understanding can be reached for meaningful exchange visits aimed giving young colleagues the opportunities of external exposure and capacity building.
JOIN IN THIS CLARION CALL TO REBRAND OUR NATIONAL SECRETARIAT AND MAKE IT BUOYANT AND AN APPEASING WORKING PLACE RENDEZVOUS FOR SLAJ MEMBERS!
BE PART OF THE CHANGE THAT YOU ARE BOUND TO BENEFIT FROM.