Summary: Victor E. Jones is an investigative journalist who uses his platform to expose corrupt officials and thereby support the thousands of Sierra Leoneans who are suffering as a result of endemic corruption perpetrated by the country’s politicians. He has been censored and attacked because of his determination to always tell the truth to the public.

Profile: Victor E. Jones is a politically non-aligned investigative journalist who uses his work to expose corrupt officials of the government of Sierra Leone. He has an uncompromising attitude of presenting unfiltered truth and credible information to Sierra Leoneans. The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Bo—along with many Sierra Leonean politicians—have described him as a “strict journalist”.

One example of Jones bringing truth to power: His article, “Rot in Sierra Leone’s Free Quality School Education Programme”, was published by the Fourth Estate Online News. It stirred a rift between him and Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, at the time Minister of Basic and Senior Education and currently Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Based on a report from the Auditor General, Jones alleged that Sengeh misappropriated funds.

Another example occurred on the radio: He had an encounter with Abdul Rahman Swarray, then the Minister of Information. Jones was asking Swarray tough questions, apparently too tough: Lucian Ganda, the head of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), barred Jones from the radio for several weeks. In some ways, it was not unusual for Jones to be persecuted by a high-ranking government official for staying true to the ideals of his profession; nonetheless, at the time, the incident almost cost Jones his job. He eventually left the company.

“Neutrality is the most essential ingredient of my character,” says Jones. He remains one of the few neutral journalists in a country where politicians have entered deeply into the fabric of the media. He despises corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and other social vices that have corrupted the functioning of the state. He remains firm in evading bribery and corruption on a daily basis, and his investigations are carried out without financial aid from government officials, corporations, or individuals.

Jones has been continually persecuted by politicians as a result of his holding them accountable. During his heydays at the SLBC, his work was undermined by censorship because of his attempts at that accountability, and he was even attacked by criminals for his efforts. As he continues to practice journalism, he is exposed to continuous threats but has not compromised his journalistic responsibilities. “People have abandoned journalism,” he says, “because of the systematic attacks . . . which tends to demotivate me, but looking up to the future of my country, I cover a renewed hope every day.”

Jones holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Mass Communication Department at Fourah Bay College-University of Sierra Leone and has practiced journalism for over a decade. He is determined to follow through with his ethics: “I will continue to be a stickler of accountability, neutrality, balance, and credibility.”