We want her voice [womenâs voices] to be heard⊠when others like her hear her voice on the public broadcaster, it will be like motivation.â
Our Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIMED) project supports journalists, like Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation radio producer Davida Garber, who tackle gender bias and cope with challenges to press freedom.
Davida says she is more aware of the importance of being inclusive in her journalism; she actively encourages her team of countrywide correspondents to encourage more women to speak in interviews, vox pops and stories. She has already noticed more womenâs voices featured in radio shows, and more women are getting in touch to ask for help with issues which are important to them.
"You might want to act professionally but you have the media ownership at the back dictating what should be on air.â
Davida says she now better understands how to cope with challenges to press freedom, including influence from media ownership and how it can put pressure on journalists and their editorial content.
Media poverty is also a major issue in Sierra Leone; journalists who are not paid sufficiently might find themselves tempted to compromise their integrity.
All of these challenges are made more complex with advancements in new media and social media, she says; however, training in best practices is helping her to forge and protect her reputation as a journalist.
"I believe that ±«Óătv Media Action⊠is an entity that is trustworthy. They are impartial and they command a lot of respect.â
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±«Óătv Media Action was working with Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) as part of the Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development, a ground-breaking consortium of media support organisations examining how to best support independent media in fragile or low-resource contexts. The project was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and finished in March 2024.