By Alvin Lansana Kargbo

The Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), in collaboration with the Paradigm Initiative (PIN), conducted a high-level workshop aimed at training over 40 journalists and media professionals from across Sierra Leone. The event took place at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown and focused on digital rights, cybersecurity and press freedom. Its primary goal was to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Opening the workshop, Dr. Francis Sowa, National Coordinator of MRCG, described the training as a critical intervention addressing the rising threats journalists face online.

“Today’s training aims to enhance journalists’ understanding of digital security in the context of press freedom,” he said. Dr. Francis Sowa highlighted the increasing prevalence of online abuse, hacking and surveillance, all of which undermine both journalistic independence and the public’s right to information.

Addressing the participants, Khadija El-Usman, Regional Lead for Anglophone West Africa at Paradigm Initiative emphasized the need for journalists to have not only access to digital tools but also safe and secure environments to use them effectively.

“Access to the internet should not be a privilege but a right,” Khadija El-Usman stated, calling for stronger protections for journalists in the digital realm.

The full-day workshop provided practical guidance and critical insights into key areas such as digital security tools, secure communication practices, data protection, ethical handling of sensitive information, cybersecurity threats facing media professionals and the legal framework surrounding online freedom of expression.

Participants engaged in hands-on exercises and shared experiences of challenges like online harassment and unauthorized digital surveillance.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the attendees issued a joint communiqué that outlined their shared concerns and recommendations directed at the Government and relevant stakeholders. While acknowledging the opportunities the digital age provides for journalism, the communiqué warned of growing threats, including online harassment, particularly targeting female journalists, digital surveillance and inadequate data protection.

The participants expressed concern over certain legislative provisions, notably Section 44 of the Cybersecurity and Crime Act (2021) and the pending Counter Terrorism Bill (2024), which they argued could be misused to suppress legitimate journalistic work under the pretense of national security or combating misinformation.

The communiqué called on the Government to take urgent actions, including enacting a comprehensive Data Protection Law aligned with the Malabo Convention to protect journalists and their sources. It also urged full implementation of the Right to Access Information Act (2013) through proactive disclosure, the inclusion of journalists and civil society in digital lawmaking processes, investigation of digital threats and harassment targeting media professionals and investment in digital literacy and training to ensure journalists remain secure and informed.

The workshop ended with a collective commitment to advocate for a digital environment that respects rights and enables free, ethical journalism. Participants emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation between the media sector, civil society and Government institutions to safeguard press freedom in the digital age.

“This is not just training, it’s a turning point,” Dr. Francis Sowa remarked in closing. “If we are to defend democracy in the digital era, then journalists must be empowered, protected and connected.”

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/mrcg-paradigm-initiative-equip-media-professionals-to-defend-free-expression-in-the-digital-age/