Africa: Sierra Leone daily on path to recovery after country's long civil war

Posted by John Burke on March 16, 2005 at 5:59 PM

Throughout 10-year bloody civil war in Sierra Leone, The Standard Times daily newspaper amazingly continued its operation under the extreme conditions. A year and a half after the war’s end, the African press network, RAP 21, presents managing editor Ibrahim Karim-Sei’s interesting reflections on the wars impact on his newspaper. Relative to its pre-war status, the paper suffered grave losses in circulation, equipment, and staff members. Poverty levels and absent refugees that have not yet returned since the war have affected newspaper sales, bringing circulation levels from between 10,000 and 15,000 to 2,000 today. Yet Karim-Sei’s positive attitude and interesting recovery strategies have helped put the paper back on a path towards a stronger publication.

The destruction of expensive equipment such as computers in fires and the loss of its deputy editor in 1999 have also had long lasting affects on the paper?s publication. And even after the peace agreement, Sierra Leone does not yet provide an environment conducive to efficient newspaper publication. Besides limited printing facilities, the country?s erratic electricity shortages create further logistical problems for The Standard Times publication. ?Even though we are a daily,? Mr. Karim-Sei explains, ?sometimes we are forced to skip an issue.? In Sierra Leone?s competitive newspaper market, the Standard Times has to make a special effort to attract advertisers, and has thus tried to cover a more varied subject matter to attract a broader base of readers. A key part of the paper?s recovery strategy to attract advertisers includes reinstating its distribution throughout the country, which was greatly injured during the war. The paper for example is currently negotiating a distribution deal with the national postal service, since the postal service has access to even the most remote areas of Sierra Leone. Despite what some may consider discouraging conditions, Karim-Sei fortunately maintains a positive outlook for his paper, anticipating it to reach its pre-war circulation levels within 1 to 2 years. The recovery process is slow, but investors are slowly coming back into the country. Karim-Sei concluded his interview by saying, ?Many publishers have given up on producing newspapers, however I am determined to keep my head above water. This is my business, I don?t know anything else."

Source: RAP 21

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