Liberia: “Liberian Media Limited in Economic Investigations and Reports”

Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah said that while the country boasts strong political, judicial and sports journalism sectors, there is still a need for specialist reporting in areas such as economics, environment and investigative journalism to support sustainable development and good governance practices.

Piah noted that Liberia has some of the smartest media practitioners in the region. Still, it was time for journalists to start looking outside the box and specializing in reporting on other key sectors of the country.

“Liberia has made significant progress and boasts of political, judicial and sports journalists, but it has limitations in terms of economic, environmental, investigative and other news that are essential to nurturing Liberia’s sustainable development in a democratic space,” Minister Piah stressed at a recent event on investigative journalism and co-creation.

Although there have been some journalistic investigations conducted in the country for several years, the Minister of Information noted that they are often based on personal attacks and negative emotions.

“The investigative journalism practiced by a select few in Liberia has focused largely on personal attacks, deeply rooted in interpersonal sentiments,” he said. “We leave the facts in these investigative stories that will allow the public to learn the facts surrounding the issues being reported.”

The small investigative efforts in Liberian media have been supported by international partners such as IREX, Internews, the European Union and others who have invested significant resources in equipping media practitioners. These projects have facilitated the involvement of various local media organizations in media development in the country.

One of these latest efforts is the Liberia Media Empowerment Project, supervised by Internews and funded by the EU. The LMEP project has an investigative journalism and co-creation component, an initiative that not only focuses on developing journalistic skills but also aims to produce a Liberia Context-Specific Investigative Journalism Training Manual. This is a joint effort involving Internews, UN Women, media, civil society organizations such as the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building CEMESP, and academic institutions.

The initiative emphasizes the importance of diversified journalism education, which Minister Piah described as a commendable approach aimed at raising the level of media literacy and professionalism in Liberia.

Samuka V. Konneh, LMEP project coordinator, noted that working in the media industry in Liberia is considered a difficult task.

The reality is that despite efforts to increase skills and potential in journalism, individuals often seek opportunities for better pay, advanced education and personal development, leading to attrition in the profession, Konneh said. “Recognizing the demanding nature of the field, it is important to maintain an unwavering commitment to journalistic pursuits.”

He added that the project aims to raise the level of investigative journalism studies in Liberia and plans to incorporate the knowledge acquired into the curricula of major academic institutions such as the University of Liberia, United Methodist University and others.

He encouraged participants to come away equipped with new ideas, improved skills and valuable contacts that will strengthen their journalism careers.

This initiative brought together over 1,000 Liberian journalists to enhance their skills and contribute to the development of journalism in Liberia.

Konneh revealed that the collaboration with universities and journalism schools aims to develop a special investigative journalism manual tailored to the specific Liberian context, which will allow investigative journalists to delve into local issues, sources and reporting methods.

“Investigative journalism is used to investigate potential wrongdoing and hold those in power accountable. The aim is to instill a sense of responsibility and dedication to improve journalistic standards for the benefit of all stakeholders, including future generations of journalists,” the project coordinator noted.

The plan is to include an investigative journalism textbook in the curriculum by December. The goal is to fuel sustained interest in journalism education and practice, and to provide a more stable and inclusive environment for aspiring journalists and students passionate about the field.

During the training, highly qualified professionals and experts delivered presentations on such important issues as public corruption, procurement fraud, development projects, and electoral and legislative processes. Other topics included human rights, transitional justice, gender inequality, gender-based violence, and women’s participation in leadership.

During these discussions, participants and speakers shared their knowledge and insights to enrich the practice of investigative journalism in Liberia.

At the same time, the organizers say that the dedication and commitment of all parties involved in the initiative is crucial to raising journalistic standards and promoting media excellence in the country.