Bio Meets Journalists at Sierra Leone–Liberia Border, Calls for Development Reporting
President Julius Maada Bio has called on journalists to prioritise development-oriented reporting, emphasising the media’s strategic role in shaping national progress and public perception.
The President made the remarks during a brief engagement with journalists at Jendema in Bo-Waterside, along the Sierra Leone–Liberia border, following the groundbreaking ceremony of a 225-kilometre primary roads project in neighbouring Liberia.
The meeting brought together key figures in the media landscape, including Thomas Josephus Dixon, Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors; Yeanor Kabia; and other journalists such as Sorie Fofana, Sallieu Tejan Jalloh, and Amin Kef.
In his address, President Bio underscored the responsibility of the media to go beyond routine reporting and highlight development initiatives across Sierra Leone and the wider subregion. He noted that accurate, balanced, and forward-looking journalism can promote unity, attract investment, and sustain public confidence, particularly amid global economic pressures.
He further described journalists as essential partners in nation-building, urging them to uphold professionalism, ensure factual accuracy, and align their work with the broader national interest.
Responding on behalf of the journalists, Dixon thanked the President for the engagement and reaffirmed the media’s commitment to responsible journalism. He said practitioners remain dedicated to reporting in a manner that reflects both accountability and national development priorities.
Other journalists present also welcomed the interaction, describing it as encouraging and a reminder of the media’s influence in shaping the country’s development narrative.
The engagement highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between government and the media, with a shared focus on transparency, accountability, and sustainable national growth.
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