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Championing Ethical Journalism & Human Rights

Established in 2014, The Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev) is a prominent entity in Sierra Leone's media sphere, advocating for ethical journalism, human rights, and gender equality.

IMdev Team

With a steadfast commitment to nurturing a robust and independent media landscape, IMdev implements strategic interventions across five and ten-year periods, fostering a dedicated cohort of journalists who prioritize human and women's rights. Operating in all 16 districts of Sierra Leone, IMdev engages 3.1 million Sierra Leoneans weekly through impactful collaborations, maintaining professionalism and non-partisanship.

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The Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev)

The Initiatives for Media Development (IMdev) is dedicated to building a vibrant and independent media sector in Sierra Leone. Through strategic partnerships, capacity-building initiatives, and advocacy efforts, we empower journalists and media organizations to uphold ethical standards, prioritize human rights and gender issues, and excel in impactful reporting. Our mission is to cultivate a media landscape that champions transparency, accountability, and social justice, driving forward the country's progress towards a more equitable and democratic society.

At IMdev, we envision a Sierra Leone with a thriving, independent, and ethical media sector that serves as a pillar of democracy, fostering informed citizenship and amplifying voices for positive societal change.

Vision 2024-2030: Over the next six years, IMdev aims to transform Sierra Leone's media landscape through media visibility projects that drive societal progress. By 2030, we aspire to see media as a catalyst for sustainable development, supporting government and organizations in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our focus is on transparency, accountability, media literacy, and ethical reporting—ensuring every voice is heard.

Our interventions leave behind a pool of skilled journalists who emphasize human and women’s rights while holding accountable those responsible for their protection. We achieve this through:

  • Training
  • Mentoring
  • Collaboration
  • Community Engagement
  • Media Partnerships
  • Promoting Rights
  • Building a community of media influencers

IMdev measures success through key strategic objectives, including:

  • Developing sustainable business models for media organizations.
  • Creating a network of journalists committed to human rights reporting.
  • Training local journalists to provide mentorship for future professionals.
  • Partnering with universities to integrate journalism education on human rights and good governance.
  • Promoting increased media independence and gender and social justice issues.
  • Enhancing conflict-sensitive media reporting, with a focus on gender-based violence.
  • Increasing media literacy and access to reliable information.

At the heart of IMdev's mission is a commitment to values that define our work:

  • Ethical: Passionate, hardworking, accessible, and consistent in our mission.
  • Innovative: Future-focused, dynamic, and open to new ideas.
  • Responsibility: We uphold accountability and encourage decision-making at all levels.
  • Equity: Fairness and impartiality towards all stakeholders.
  • Inclusivity: Promoting diversity and ensuring all voices are heard.
Strategic Objectives

Increasing Media Independence

Problem Identified: The challenge for media development is the independence of media, meaning the ability for media owners to become economically self-sufficient to invest in their outlets, staff, and quality reporting.

Proposed Solution:

  • Business training for senior media managers and proprietors.
  • Training on Media Code of Practice and increasing access/knowledge of the code.
  • Conflict management sessions between journalists and media management.
  • In-house training on daily tasks, such as administration.
  • Strengthening the network of community radio stations for independence and sustainability.
  • Training for journalists' organizations on representing journalists' needs and engaging with media management.
Media Independence

Emphasis on Gender & Social Justice

Problem Identified: Given the increasing rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in Sierra Leone, and the success of mentorship for female journalists, there is a need to strengthen the focus on GBV coverage and mentorship of female reporters into positions of authority in newsrooms.

Proposed Solution:

  • Practical training and mentorship for women journalists on GBV coverage.
  • Field reporting trips on GBV issues.
  • More community forums to engage external stakeholders.
  • Training on laws governing gender and GBV and their enforcement.
  • Investigative fellowships on gender issues.
  • Exchange programs for journalists.
  • Gender sensitivity training in newsrooms.
  • Targeting non-traditional groups like vendors’ associations.
Gender and Social Justice

Human Rights Awareness

Problem Identified: There is a need for increased human rights awareness, targeting students, journalism faculty, media professionals, and the general public.

Proposed Solution:

  • Workshops and seminars for students on human rights topics.
  • Development of human rights and gender-focused journalism curriculum for post-secondary institutions.
  • Mentorship of faculty to teach human rights and gender reporting.
  • Peer mentorship schemes (students with journalists, younger journalists with senior ones).
  • Creation of student journalism clubs.
  • Development of training materials for journalists.
  • Establishing resource centers for research and training.
Human Rights Awareness

Mitigating Gender-Based Violence

Problem Identified: IMDEV’s training has highlighted the human cost of domestic violence. However, gender-based violence remains a serious issue, and there is a need for conflict-sensitive approaches to gender reporting.

Proposed Solution:

  • Training on gender-sensitive conflict reporting through workshops and mentorship.
  • Engaging security forces on appropriate media interactions, especially on domestic violence.
  • Safety and first-aid training for journalists, particularly women.
  • Training on reporting sensitive private-sector issues, such as labor practices and extractive industries.
Gender-Based Violence Reporting

Media Information Literacy

Problem Identified: With increased access to media and the internet, there are opportunities but also risks, especially for children and adolescents. Media Information Literacy is crucial to help people critically assess news and information.

Proposed Solution:

  • Enhancing the Sierra Leone Fact Checker platform.
  • Developing a Media Information Literacy Toolkit for civil society organizations and journalists.
  • Expanding outreach to schools and communities about Media Information Literacy.
  • Developing a blueprint for Media Information Literacy.
  • Bridging the digital divide for rural women.
  • Increasing online security and countering online violence against women.
Media Literacy




Cross Cutting Themes

Mentorship

  • All IMdev activities and roles should focus on the IMdev mentorship model.
  • IMdev seeks to work practically with the media, tailoring training to the constraints and challenges of the environment in which journalists work.
  • Through all strategic objectives, IMdev should ensure initiatives have a sustainable model for continued mentorship, whether between organizations, media outlets, or individuals.
  • Mentoring should align with other training methods in the country to amplify impact.

Improved Partnership/Network and Deepening Engagement

All specific objectives should seek to include local partners and networks to ensure that knowledge and capacity are housed within a collective of media professionals, strengthening the collaboration and engagement within the sector.






Our Impact