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Sierra Leone: Statistics Sierra Leone Schools Journalists
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Concord Times (Freetown)
14 July 2008
Posted to the web 14 July 2008
Pel Koroma
Statistic Sierra Leone yesterday organized a one-day clinic for journalists at the presidential launch of the National Stadium, Freetown.
Statistician general Prof. Laurence Kamara said the main objective of the seminar is to educate media statisticians and ambassadors so as to enforce the role of Statistic Sierra Leone in integrating media into statistical functions as Statistic Sierra Leone implement the national strategy for the development of statistics.
"Our main objective is empowering the media through knowledge and creating statistical awareness among stakeholders in the country about the benefits of statistical data in the development process. The media is empowered to promote statistical culture," Prof. Kamara said.
Prof. Kamara noted that among these stake holders the media occupies a special position for which inevitable reason statistic office should work closely with the media so that the media could undertake publicity to popularize statistics and help in building a statistical culture. "Dissemination of official statistics is an essential feature of statistics as a public good," he said.
He emphasized that readiness and equal access to information are principal requirements for the public. "Integrating the media agencies into the national statistical system as agents of publicity for statistical activities and survey programmes, as user of statistical products undertaking appropriate analysis that enables them write stories emanating from figures," Prof. Kamara said adding that giving awareness and understanding to the media on the procedures for data production so that the public in turn becomes aware of what goes into the public, building up a statistical information system in the country.
"It is a prime target to build up the capacity of the media to correctly interpret data and to equally use data appropriately," he said.
Sonnia-Magba Bu-Buakei Jabbi of Statistics Sierra Leone observed that the media is faced with a lot of challenges in terms of reporting statistic report. "Interpreting statistical information and accessing information has been a major impediment for journalists and therefore imperative that media practitioners get facts right and interpret data correctly," he said.
Bu-Buakei Jabbi noted that acquainting journalists with the role of statistics in the planning, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes in all sectors of human development is crucial.
Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Abdul Raman Swarray highlighted the problems of interpreting statistical figures.
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"There is no specialization in the practice of journalism in the country. We should be having economic and budgetary reporters whose main aim is to give correct figures in financial and budgetary as well as statistical information. Journalists should be well grounded so that they will not falsely interpret statistical surveys," Swarray said.
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