Mass media in Sierra Leone
Mass media in Sierra Leone began when the first modern printing press in Africa arrived at the start of the 19th century.
Print media is not widely read in Sierra Leone, especially outside Freetown, partially due to the low levels of literacy in the country.
Sierra Leone has been featured in foreign media with coverage mainly focused on the country's civil war.
Foreign media, particularly American gangsta rap had an influence on the combatants in the civil war particularly the West Side Boys.
[1] When another press became operational in 1800 it allowed the newspapers the Sierra Leone Advertiser and the Royal Gazette to begin publication.
[2] The year 1855 saw the foundation of the African Interpreter and Advocate by F. A. Belgrave founded and of the Sierra Leone weekly by Charles Bannerman.
In the period newspapers were politically outspoken covering topics including stories about racism, colonialism and the rights of Africans.
[1] The industry went into decline at the end of the 19th century due to low levels of sales, which were the main source of income for newspapers.
[2] It closed in the late 1990s but was revived on line in 2010 by three journalists, Leeroy Wilfred Kabs-Kanu, Ahmed Kamara and David Tam-Baryoh.
This is a particularly important factor for some sections of society, as only about half of women and older people are literate and literacy levels are lower outside Freetown.
[8] Although Sierra Leone had a long history of publishing and consuming books, the civil war altered this position.
Results of a 2007 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) survey indicated it was important to listeners that radio news was unbiased, accurate and trustworthy and that it was by far the most trusted media in Sierra Leone.
The results showed that news and music programmes were the most popular and that the radio source of information most people used to learn about events that happened in the country including national elections.
The SLBC has a studio and transmitter in Freetown and regional headquarters in Bo, Makeni, Kenema, Kailahun, Magburaka and Koidu.
[14] The UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) used to run the station UN Radio on FM frequency 103.0, this broadcast in languages including English, Krio, Temne, Limba and Mende.
[15] International Radio There is one operational national television station broadcasting in Sierra Leone which covers the Western Area, Bo, Kenema and Makeni.
The operational national terrestrial station is the state run the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) with coverage of Freetown (2 channels), Bo, Kenema and Makeni.
Internet access in Sierra Leone has been low but from 2008, after the introduction of wireless service and 3G mobile phones, use has increased dramatically.
In 2006 former President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah committed to reforming the laws governing the press and media to create a freer system for journalist to work in.
[27] Twenty-first century coverage of Sierra Leone in foreign media has focused on events connected with the country's civil war, diamond trade and more recently the Ebola outbreak.
