Journalist Ishmael Sallieu Koroma Awarded Third Position By Merck Foundation
A young Sierra Leonean journalist has been awarded third position on the online category by Merk foundation as one of the winners of the ‘ Mask Up With Care Media Recognition Award 2021.
Receiving the award, Journalist Ishmael Sallieu Koroma thanked the merk foundation for giving him the opportunity
He noted that he is proud of being the winning from Sierra Leone
“Woke up to a great and refreshing news this morning from Merck Foundation as one of the winners of the ‘ Mask Up With Care Media Recognition Award 2021 bagging third Position in the online category. Yes , I’m proud that I’m a winner from #SierraLeone
@MusaAns” he noted.
Ishmael Sallieu Koroma is a multi – award winning journalist based in Sierra Leone. He started his career in journalism in 2011 and has worked for both print and broadcast media.
He is the winner for the 2020 Merck Foundation Stay at “Home Media Award” bagging first position for the Print Category in West Africa with an award value of $500.
Ishmael was among ten journalist that won the 2017 United States of America (USA) Embassy in Freetown Media fellowship Grant of $350 for the submission of a story idea titled ”The Rise of Social Media and its effect on Freedom of Expression in Sierra Leone.
During the 2018 elections , Ishmael was a frequent interview host for the Senegal based West African Democracy Radio updating their global audience on Sierra Leone’s election , the unfolding events during and after the process of the most crucial election in the former British West African nation.
Ishmael is the correspondent in Sierra Leone for the Efe- Spain’s International News Agency based in Madrid and writes extensively on different beats from Breaking news, news feature,articles among others. Also he writes as a freelance journalist with Pan African Visions online , a US based news platform whose aim is to write African stories to an International audience . Koroma has been contracted by leading media institution in the world and has worked on several projects and most recently with the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) and the Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF) based in Ghana on a six- month Project doing transitional Justice stories in Sierra Leone.
Koroma has appeared on so many platforms including the State broadcaster -The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC)’s Podium Program and Freetown Television Network (FTN) and on Africa Young Voices Television (AYV TV) in Sierra Leone.
Ishmael has interviewed many great personalities including former Nigerian President Good luck Jonathan, former Ghanian President John Daramani Mahama ,world environmental icon Dr. Jane Goodall , Sierra Leone’s Anti – Corruption Commissioner Francis Ben Kaifala Esq , President Julius Maada Bio among others.
He has so much interest in writing health stories , development and human interest stories with an human right angle. He is an active blogger, social commentator and writes extensively on different topics including economic , human rights and social issues among other areas.
Ishmael is the current Vice President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union(SLRU) in the country. He is a Merck Foundation Alumni member.
