Dictionary Debonair Rejects ‘Regime-Changed Journalist’ Label by Supporters of SLPP
Osman Tolo Sesay Journalist Dictionary Debonair has defended his professional independence after some supporters of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) reportedly described him as a “regime-changed journalist,” arguing that disagreement with political supporters does not establish a shift in allegiance.
In a Facebook post, Debonair questioned whether the label reflected any actual change in his journalism or instead stemmed from expectations among political supporters about the views he should express.
He argued that journalists should be judged by the accuracy of their reporting, the strength of their analysis and their willingness to scrutinize political actors, rather than by whether their conclusions favor a particular party.
Debonair said political commentary should not be treated as a commitment to defend one side consistently while criticizing the other. He maintained that each issue requires an independent assessment of the available facts, circumstances and potential consequences.
He also challenged what he described as a tendency in political discourse to equate agreement with loyalty and disagreement with betrayal.
According to the journalist, acknowledging the merits of a government policy does not automatically make a reporter a supporter of the ruling party, just as criticizing an opposition party does not establish allegiance to the government.
Debonair said the same standards should apply in reverse, noting that criticism of the government does not necessarily indicate support for the opposition.
He acknowledged, however, that journalists are not immune to bias or professional mistakes. He urged critics to identify specific errors, inaccurate representations of facts or evidence of partisan reporting rather than relying solely on political labels.
The journalist also distinguished between changing an opinion after considering new evidence and altering a position to satisfy political interests. He argued that consistency in journalism should be measured by the principles applied to an issue, not by whether the journalist reaches the same conclusion on every occasion.
Debonair said he would not criticize the government merely to demonstrate independence or defend its actions to prove fairness. Instead, he maintained that political decisions should be assessed on their individual merits.
He further questioned whether Sierra Leone’s polarized political environment creates expectations that journalists must remain within the boundaries of political supporters’ preferences to retain their credibility.
The journalist called for a political culture in which citizens can challenge media analysis without automatically assigning political motives to its author.
He concluded by reaffirming his willingness to accept evidence-based criticism, correct mistakes and scrutinize political actors whenever circumstances warrant it.
The Facebook post presents Debonair’s response to the label and his views on journalistic independence. The allegations against him and the claims of political bias were not independently verified for this report.