SLENA Holds a One-Day Orientation for New Staff SLENA’s MD, Assistant MD, and newly recruited staff pose for a photo, displaying enthusiasm in joining the Agency.

In a decisive step toward revitalizing news dissemination, the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA) convened a one-day orientation for newly recruited News Editors and a Photojournalist. Held on October 9, 2025, at SLENA House on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown, the event aimed to strengthen the agency’s capacity to deliver credible, fact-checked news across all platforms.

SLENA’s Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Madam Yeama Sarah Lolo Thompson-Oguamah, opened the session by outlining the agency’s recent efforts to revive what she described as a formerly dormant institution. She noted that five years ago SLENA was effectively “on life support,” with limited staff and no digital presence, including no website or official social media pages.

To address these challenges, the Director highlighted an early strategy that relied on volunteers and the production of a second newspaper to signal life. A pivotal turning point came with securing support from the Ministry of Finance, which helped lay the groundwork for a broader reform agenda.

In her address, Madam Thompson-Oguamah underlined her ultimate responsibility for every published piece. “Before any news goes on the websites, I should be the last person to see it,” she stated, underscoring the accountability embedded in the newsroom workflow. She noted that she reports to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, the agency’s parent ministry, and warned that professional lapses could jeopardize not only her job but the livelihoods of the entire team.

The executive of the Agency welcoming the new staff in an awesome exposure

The director also briefed the new staff on SLENA’s ambitious organogram, approved by the Public Sector Reform Unit. The designed structure envisions correspondents in ministries, departments, agencies, and districts, with reports routed through sub-editors, editors, a senior news editor, and an assistant Managing Director before reaching the director’s desk.

In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, SLENA’s leadership reaffirmed the importance of foundational journalism skills. Madam Thompson-Oguamah stressed the core ability to summarize, simplify, and distill lengthy documents into concise, impactful content. She attributed success to a strong vocabulary and broad knowledge, encouraging staff to prioritize reading to build both knowledge and linguistic proficiency.

Addressing AI use, she cautioned against lazy practices, such as copying AI-generated text without human editing or fact-checking. AI can be a powerful tool, she said, but it must be governed by thoughtful, human oversight. “You need to be the intelligent commander of the technology,” she advised, reminding staff that professional excellence relies on their own expertise and judgment.

The orientation reinforced SLENA’s commitment to delivering accurate, verifiable news while building a robust, future-ready newsroom culture.

Correspondent/News Editor-Amara Kargbo

Email: kargboamara079@gmail.com

Tel: +232 73111507