Second edition of SIMA: the Minister of Communication pleads for a sustainable economic model for the media

The Minister of Communication and Dialogue with Institutions, Government spokesperson, Dr Bakary Sarr, calls for strengthening media regulation, building sustainable economic models and improving the working conditions of journalists. A triple requirement that he considers essential to the emergence of a media ecosystem capable of preserving its independence and responding to changes in the sector.

The minister spoke this Thursday, October 8 in Dakar, on the occasion of the official opening ceremony of the second edition of the International Media Fair of Africa (SIMA), scheduled from October 8 to 11 around the theme: “Building a sovereign and efficient media ecosystem”.

For Dr Bakary Sarr, media sovereignty cannot be considered a privilege reserved for countries with significant resources. It constitutes, according to him, “an issue of governance, independence and responsibility in an environment marked by profound transformations”.

The minister particularly insisted on the fragility of the media economic model. “A journalist who is not paid with dignity becomes vulnerable,” he said, calling on players in the sector to explore new forms of financing. He notably mentioned the establishment of “media cooperatives and partnerships, likely to contribute to strengthening the economic viability of press companies”.

This reflection comes in a context marked by the erosion of advertising revenues and the rise of digital platforms, which are disrupting traditional models of financing and dissemination of information. Faced with these changes, the minister also recalled the development, by Senegal, of its new regulatory framework through the Press Code.

Among the concerns raised during the ceremony was the place of women in the media. Dr Bakary Sarr noted their “under-representation in management positions within the editorial staff”, believing that this situation should be the subject of corrective measures in order to promote a more balanced representation.

Dakar 2026, a meeting for Africa

Coverage of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games also occupied an important place in the minister’s speech. He sees it as a major opportunity for Senegal and for the African continent, calling on the media to support the event with professionalism and high standards.

He thus invited media professionals to “cover this event with all the care it deserves”, in particular to show the world “an Africa capable of organizing a global event”.

For his part, the coordinator of the SIMA steering committee, Matar Sylla, insisted on the need to go beyond the diagnosis stage. Discussions devoted to regulation, media financing, training, the protection of journalists and the impact of new technologies must, according to him, lead to “realistic solutions”.

Placed under the sign of reflection and the search for concrete answers, this second edition of SIMA brings together several players in the sector around high-level panels. Algeria and Germany are the two guest countries of honor for this edition, which continues until October 11 in Dakar.

O.BA