As part of its strategy to regulate media activities in the country, the Independent Media Commission IMC yesterday signed a joint communiqué with the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists SLAJ, Independent Radio Network IRN and the Guild of Editors to ensure that media practitioners report accurately without bitterness.

The communiqué was developed after a one day media forum held at the Bintumani Hotel on July 9 with the theme 'The role of the Media in the 2012 general elections' organized by IMC with support from the United Nations Development Programme UNDP where media practitioners discussed the expected conduct of the media before, during and after the November elections.

According to the IMC Chairperson, Mr. Rod Mac-Johnson, the signing of the communiqué was significant as it shows commitment from the media for a peaceful 2012 elections.

"You need not to be reminded that this occasion is important because it demonstrates that the media is contributing greatly to the democratic process of the country," he said.

The communiqué clearly stated that the parliament has passed the revised IMC Act and the Media Code of Practice into law and urged media houses to be mindful of the language they disseminate, either directly or from politicians, in order not to undermine the peace and stability of the state.

It also stated that the IMC should be more robust in monitoring the content of information disseminated especially along ethnic lines among others.

Vice President of SLAJ, Sheik Bawoh, thanked the UN country team for its enormous support to the media in Sierra Leone and stressed that SLAJ has been working very hard to ensure that media practitioners obey the media code of practice as they are often blamed for practising bad journalism.

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