Section 8, The Independent Media Commission Act, 2000. [Margin: Short title.]

The objects for which the Commission is established are— [Margin: Functions of Commission.] (a) to promote a free and pluralistic media throughout Sierra Leone; (b) to ensure that media institutions achieve the highest level of efficiency in the provision of media services; (c) to promote fair competition among media institutions and persons engaged in the provision of media services; (d) to protect the interest of the public against exploitation or abuse by media institutions; and (e) to promote technological research and the development of adequate human resources for the advancement of the medial industry throughout Sierra Leone. 26 No. 12 Independent Media Commission Act 2000 (2) Without prejudice to subsection (1), it shall be the function of the Commission to— (a) advise the Minister on media policy formulation and development; (b) ensure strict compliance with this Act and regulations made under it; (c) establish categories of licences and grant such licences to electronic media institutions in Sierra Leone; (d) prescribe minimum percentage of total broadcast hours to be devoted to public service programmes by various types and categories of electronic media institutions; (e) maintain a register of media institutions, newspapers and magazines published in Sierra Leone; (f) establish clear limits on media ownership, including cross-media ownership in the interest of diversity; (g) ensure that every person shall have, irrespective of that person's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status, access to fair coverage in the broadcast media; (h) compile and adopt a comprehensive media Code of Practice, in consultation with SLAJ, and any other media practitioners' association, and to monitor the implementation of that Code throughout Sierra Leone; (i) do all such things as may contribute to the attainment of the objects of the Commission. [illegible]o. 12 Independent Media Commission Act 2000 27