Press Release
For Immediate Release
Date: August 20, 2024
Clarification on the Status of Ms. Umu Thoronka at SLBC Makeni
The Management of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) wishes to address the recent concerns circulating on social media regarding the alleged “termination” of one Ms. Umu Thoronka at the SLBC Makeni station. The Messages have circulated asserting that Ms. Thoronka’s appointment was wrongfully terminated because of a video she shared with an independent brand, which is against the corporation’s professional standards and fundamental beliefs.
Board Review and Conclusions:
The Board of Directors of the SLBC has thoroughly investigated the matter, and the following conclusions were reached:
- Ms. Umu Thoronka is not a reporter for SLBC Makeni. She initially worked as a freelance contractor for SLBC in 2015 for a three-month period, followed by a subsequent contract that extended until 2018 when she ceased serving the Corporation.
- Like any member of the public who would bring business to the SLBC on commission, Ms Thoronka started supporting the Corporation with marketing contents this year and was paid her first commission in June 2024.
- The decision to end her marketing endeavours on commission with the Corporation was based on internal operational considerations, and not influenced by any external factors.
In July this year, Ms Umu Thoronka flouted the SLBC policies by undertaking the following acts:
1. She took SLBC footages without permission.
2. She unduly utilized SLBC-branded contents on her personal social media platforms.
3. She ran commentary on the SLBC-branded contents bringing the institution’s name into disrepute.
Assuming without conceding that Ms. Thoronka was a staff of the Corporation as she claims, she was in the position to know the dictates of the SLBC Employee Manual and the SLBC Editorial Guidelines, (Sections 9.0; 10.2;) which consider her actions very unprofessional and the same tantamount to summary dismissal.
We wish to state that the Corporation remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, and transparency. While we welcome open dialogue and inquiries into our processes, it is essential to distinguish fact from speculation. We assure the public that our actions are consistently guided by our mandate to serve the people of Sierra Leone with integrity and impartiality.
We urge the public and all stakeholders to refrain from spreading unverified information.
SLBC remains dedicated to providing accurate, timely, and balanced reporting, and we appreciate the continued support of our listeners, viewers and partners.
For further inquiries, please contact slbc.slnews@gmail.com
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About SLBC
The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) is the national broadcaster of Sierra Leone, dedicated to delivering quality programming and news coverage to the people of Sierra Leone. With a commitment to integrity, SLBC serves as a vital source of information, education, and entertainment across the country.
