Search For Common Ground - Talking Drum Studio in Sierra Leone Earns Three IMC Award

The Independent Media Commission (IMC) of Sierra Leone, in collaboration with Celtel (a leading mobile phone company), held its first media awards ceremony at the Kimbima Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone in December 2005. The awards recognized personalities and institutions that distinguished themselves in the field of journalism in 2005. The awards were divided into three categories, recognizing achievements in Radio, Print and Television.

Search for Common Ground's Talking Drum Studio (SFCG/TDS) scooped up all three awards in the radio category, winning for Best Radio Magazine, Best Development Reporting and Best Investigative Reporting. Common Ground News Feature, one of SFCG/TDS' nationally broadcast magazine programs, won both the award for Best Radio Magazine and for Best Development Reporting. The winning program in the radio magazine category dealt with several issues that have emerged in Sierra Leone's security sector in the face of UNAMSIL (United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone) draw down and final withdrawal from the country. In the category for development reporting, the winning episode focused on the issue of food security, highlighting farmers' needs and complaints and the government's efforts to address them. "Paliment Bol At" an interactive program that informs people on the operations of Parliament and the activities of parliamentarians, won the Best Investigative Reporting Award for investigating a recent vehicle purchase by the Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Anti-Corruption Commission. The purchase had been the subject of a parliamentary sub-committee investigation and the source of much public interest and concern. The show found that the purchase was legitimate; the money used was not embezzled, but diverted from surplus funds.

The Independent Media Commission (IMC) was established in 2000 by an act of Parliament to standardize the operations of the media in Sierra Leone. After putting in place a media code of conduct and other measures to guarantee quality journalism in Sierra Leone, the Commission inaugurated the IMC Awards in order that the awardees might serve as role models to other individuals and institutions, encouraging professionalism in the field. In the words of Bernadette Cole, the Chairwoman of the Commission, "The media in Sierra Leone is going through a major transformation, a rebirth that will see it reclaim its lost glory in the realm of journalism, not only in the sub-region, but in Africa as a whole." Search for Common Ground's Talking Drum Studio is playing its part to support this media transformation and rebirth in Sierra Leone.

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