Veteran broadcast journalist and women’s rights activist, Asmaa James, has announced the launch of her own broadcasting platform, Rise Radio (96.3 FM).

“Today, I announce that I have established Rise Radiosl 96.3 FM,” James wrote on Twitter last Thursday.

She said Rise Radio is a community service media organization that will provide platforms and opportunities to amplify the voices of women, girls and young people in addressing critical and emerging issues affecting them.

Rise Radio is a community service media organization that seeks to provide a platform and opportunity to amplify the voices of women, girls and young people in addressing critical and emerging issues affecting them and to promote human rights, a just and inclusive society, democracy and progressive governance through radio broadcast.

The establishment of the radio station is derived from Asmaa’s passion and interests include upholding and promoting independent media platforms thereby creating safe spaces for diverse and inclusive voices, positions and interests, with the aim of promoting an active citizenry, whilst strengthening progressive democratic governance.

Asma James, is an award-winning journalist with 20+ years’ experience in post-conflict Sierra Leone, she formerly managed Radio Democracy and hosted “Good Morning Sierra Leone.” Her passion for storytelling and commitment to amplifying voices made her influential in enhancing democratic governance.

She received the Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2016 and was recognized by the BBC in 2019 as one of the “100 Most Influential Women in the World” for her ‘Black Tuesday Movement’ campaign against sexual violence. In 2022, she was honored by the British High Commission and President Julius Maada Bio, receiving the “Officer of the Order of the Rokel” designation.

She further served as Vice-President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union, and also founded the Girls Plus initiative, part of the AJ Foundation, focusing on education and sexual health in Sierra Leone.