Basically the media which compose of the print, broadcast and the internet media is the communication channel through which information is being disseminated in a form of news, education, promotional messages and other data.
The media is very important in every society in that it is the fastest and most efficient way to receive information on various subjects. As an institution that encourages collective consciousness, the media is a tool that maintains a balanced society which is characterized by well- informed people.
However having an unpararelled influence on all aspect of human life in modern times information from the media influences the people as it has the power to manipulate the thinking of the people, thus making the people to believe on the information the insinuate.
The social media in contemporary times is so powerful that it has recently attracted a huge number of customers in many parts of the globe. When used for its correct purpose the social media is such a powerful tool to promote the quick dissemination of information due to its expanded connectivity as billions of people worldwide use social networks in terms of marketing as it is the most cost effective ways to reach mass amount of consumers that support a cause. When use for the wrong purpose or context, social media cannot only affect an individual but the society as a whole.
Amidst its role of entertaining and informing the general populace on daily happenings in the society the media is also conferred with the responsibility of educating the masses especially on issues of importance to the security of the state, in this regard therefore media houses in Sierra Leone should play a great role in the cause of preventing the deadly virus from invading Sierra Leone. It is said that information is power therefore the covenant newspaper is of the view that people who are of the habit of disseminating wrong information to the people on the development of coronavirus and other issues should desist from that as certain stories published by the social or mainstream media has the proclivity to largely influenced the reactions of the people.
It is no secret that the people depend solely on the media to not only inform them about the progress of the dreadful disease but to also educate them on the dangers and necessary measures and precautions that they need to apply and implement so as to ensure that Sierra Leone as a nation contains the disease from circulation, in case there is an outbreak.
Pressmen must ensure that information receive on matters relating to coronavirus should be thoroughly investigated and confirmed before published for the general consumption of the public because they people relay on information disseminated to them by the mainstream media.
The covenant newspaper totally condemns the act of posting wrong information through the social media or publishing an unconfirmed source in the mainstream media which totally misinforms the general populace, as we in the covenant newspaper are with the strong opinion that the effectiveness of media sensitization programmes will help seriously in stooping the coronavirus pandemic from invading Sierra Leone.
We are calling on the attention of the Ministry of information and all other authorities concern to proffer solutions as to how to regulate the social and mainstream media respectively especially in reporting on issues that boarders around the coronavirus epidemic.
