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Newsprint in Sierra Leone

The number of newspapers publishing in Sierra Leone has grown briskly in recent years despite a fragile economy and high illiteracy. By the end of 2009, 58 newspapers were registered with the Independent Media Commission (IMC), up from only 10 in 2000. However, these publications have only minimal circulations, reflecting a lack of modern equipment, technical capabilities and solid business management.[1] [2]

As Chart 1 shows, only about 11 percent of survey respondents said they read a newspaper on a regular basis (weekly). An even smaller percentage (8 percent) of respondents said they read a newspaper weekly in order to specifically gather news and information. Education, of course, plays an important role in whether a person gets their news from a newspaper. About 23 percent of those who have at least some secondary education read a newspaper weekly for news. The percentage for those with only a primary education drops precipitously to only 4 percent.

Chart 1

No newspaper has a dominant market position (see our Media Outlet Matrix). Only a limited number of Sierra Leoneans can afford to regularly purchase a newspaper and the current number of printing presses within the country still restricts circulation size and reach.

The print industry has received substantial help from international organizations. In 2001, the non-governmental organization Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE, http://www.cjfe.org/eng/projects/projects.html) started the Media Support Group project to assist in making printing output cheaper, better quality, and more reliable. The Media Support Group was able to purchase a new printing press and create a cooperative to operate it. Newspapers were able to increase the number of pages published and do so on a more regular basis. In addition, the CJFE also conducted in-house training for newspapers on editorial quality, advertising sales and circulation development. [3]

Sources of advertising revenue and sponsorship are limited in number for most papers, which often leaves them prone to cater to the commercial interests of those few sources. Editorial staff may not be inclined to cross advertisers and their political interests. Another barrier to investment, identified by the BBC’s African Media Development Initiative, is the maintenance of the 1965 Public Order Act. It criminalizes libel, making potential investors wary about the possibility their newspaper being shut down because of a libel allegation. [4]

[1] “Facts & Figures”. Independent Media Commission. Freetown, Sierra Leone. Accessed January 2010. http://www.imc-sl.org/FactsFigures/tabid/56/Default.aspx.

[2] “Media Sustainability Index: Sierra Leone”. International Research Exchanges Board (IREX). Washington, D.C. Accessed January 2010. http://www.irex.org/programs/MSI_Africa/20067/2007/MSI07_sierra-leone.pdf.

[3] “Project Work”. Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Toronto, Canada. Accessed January 2010. http://www.cjfe.org/eng/projects/projects.html.

[4] “Sierra Leone: Newspapers”. Africa Media Development Initiative. BBC World Service Trust. Accessed January 2010. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/pdf/AMDI/sierra_leone/amdi_sl7_newspapers.pdf.