Celtel /IMC awards

The second Celtel / IMC Media award was held on Friday 2nd February 2007 at the Bank Complex Kingtom, with senior media experts and host of journalists in attendance. In her welcome statement, the Chairperson of the Independent Media Commission, Mrs. Bernadette Cole said that the Media awards competition was established by the IMC and Celtel in 2005 to help improve and maintain the highest ethical standards and professionalism in journalism.

In his statement the Managing Director of Celtel Sierra Leone - Ted Sauti-Phiri said that the Celtel/IMC Awards was instituted in 2005 as part of Celtel’s corporate social responsibility. He said that he was honored to be a part of the awards ceremony as it encompasses part of his company’s corporate social responsibility.

President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist (SLAJ) Alhaji I.B. Kargbo emphasized that journalism has moved beyond ordinary reporting as there are more challenges in the present day journalism. The criteria for submission of entries included originality of the entry which should be in the form of a newspaper or magazine article, audio or video programme. A total of ten recipients took home a trophy, a certificate plus a cheque of Le1,000,000 (One Million Leones) each . The awards was grouped into ten critical areas of reportage including Best report on Gender issues, Best feature story, Best report on Human right issue, Best TV Magazine programme, Best Radio magazine programme etc.

African Music from Ballanta Academy of Music and comic relief from famous Comedian, Vamboi livened up the evening.