By Gibril Gbanabome Koroma,
Editor/Publisher
I sometmes ask myself why Sierra Leonean journalists love to attack themselves so much. Yes, it does happen in other African countries and in the West but that mania in Sierra Leoneans is just mind-boggling. Can’t they see our country needs all hands on deck to move it from the bottom of the Human Development Index?
As a journalist, even when I was younger, I did not spend time on personal attacks and now that I am over 40 with younger colleagues in the profession to guide and mentor, I really do not have time to waste on personal attacks or press wars which seem to be flourishing these days among colleagues in Sierra Leone and abroad. Stop it, guys, let’s help rebuild our shattered country!
Personal attacks are usually emotional stuff with scarcely any evidence to stand up in court, so why bother with them? I prefer strong intellectual debate with well-researched, concrete evidence. When people launch personal attacks on me (and these are few and far between) I usually just ignore them because my conscience is clear about whatever I do. I like to keep it that way because I know I have a lot of work to do to help provide quality journalism for my people and the rest of the world. Responding to personal attacks devoid of sense or evidence just kills your spirit and lowers your productivity. Those who know me would tell you I am quite capable of attacking, that my pen can be quite ferocious but I prefer to do that with public officials, not fellow journalists. What’s the use, for what purpose? None. Zilch.
Even propaganda has its limits. The best propagandist is one who does his or her homework, does thorough research to demolish the opponent with cultured language to convey his or her message. It’s bad propaganda to do shoddy research and wallow in profane and nasty language. That will just turn off the reader, the target of your propaganda. By nature, gung-ho, slash and burn propaganda is counter-productive and I tend to keep far from it and all forms of unpleasant behaviour. I have always challenged immoral and evil authority figures who misuse power, be they politicians or not. That I will continue to do; but with civility, objectivity and fairness.
So my advice to colleagues, especially the younger chaps trying to make a name for themselves back home, is to avoid personal attacks and do some serious stuff. Go for good journalism, the best way to rise to the top. Action speaks louder than words. Stop the lunacy and give us some good stuff. If soba man fet wit crase man na udat den go laf? Bu unu dey mek man gains wit nonsense. Chai!
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