Internews Liberia, the prime implementer of Media Activity (MA), a five-year comprehensive media development program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced the accomplishment of a major milestone with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of support to 30 selected radio stations nationwide: Radio Gbarnga, Voice of Sanoyea and Radio Jorwah, Bong County; Radio Bomi, Bomi County; Radio Cape and Radio Piso, Grand Cape Mount; Wee Radio and Radio Gbehzohn, Grand Bassa; Smile FM and Peace Radio, Grand Gedeh County; Radio Gee, River Gee County; Radio Karn, Voice of Peace, Radio Sehnwai, Voice of Tappita and Radio Kergheamahn, Nimba County; Voice Sinoe, Sinoe County; Voice of Grand Kru, Grand Kru; Voice of Pleebo, Maryland; Rivercess Broadcasting System, Rivercess County; Radio Kakata and Peace FM, Margibi County; Alternative Youth Radio, Radio Kintorma, Radio Tamba Tikor and Vaihun Radio, Lofa County.
In Montserrado County, Internews is partnering with OK FM, Prime FM, Lux FM and Voice of Rural Montserrado as well as Radio Kongbai in Gbarpolu County.
Under the partnership agreement, USAID Media Activity will support the selected radio stations to boost their capacity in quality journalism, enhance their effectiveness in serving as a conduit for citizen voices and government response, strengthen management, provide financial viability and revenue generation to improve their sustainability, and maintain current media freedoms to reliably carry out responsible journalism and drive reform.
The MOU requires partner radio stations to increase the quantity and quality of programs and news contents on matters of importance to the community, which will enable the community to be well-informed and knowingly engage in public discussions on important issues of the day.
Before the signing of the MoUs in Ganta, Nimba County, at the weekend, station managers, board members and other officials from the 30 community radio stations gathered from across the country for an intensive two-day orientation on issues of collaboration and support to these community radio stations.
Speaking at the opening of the orientation, Suzanne Truchard, Director, Office of Democracy, Rights and Governance, USAID/Liberia, described the signing of the MoU as the first step in strengthening the capacities of media outlets by providing technical equipment, training, mentoring and media business support.
“My hope is also that during this event each of you will establish networks with the new Media Activity partners as well as other partner community radio stations,” said Truchard.
She said the U.S. government has been a proud partner to Liberia in supporting a free and open press.
Truchard added, “However, several barriers still remain that prevent the media from functioning effectively as it could be a conduit for citizens’ voices and to promote accountability. USAID’s new Media Activity will be an important partner in this effort and will help strengthen the capacity and improve the sustainability of community radio stations, newspapers and other media outlets, enhance the quality of journalism and expand opportunities for citizens to engage with their leaders through media.”
The USAID official indicated that as Liberia continues to take steps to strengthen its democracy and combat corruption, an even more vibrant and free media is necessary.
She assured that the U.S. government, through USAID, will be a committed partner through this new Media Activity.
“We look forward with all of you to promote a vibrant, free, and sustainable media sector in Liberia,” she noted.
Providing an overview of the orientation, Lien Bach, Chief of Party of USAID Media Activity and Country Director of Internews Liberia, said a few months ago a team from Internews, Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR), Press Union of Liberia (PUL), USAID Liberia DRG Office and the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) travelled all around Liberia and conducted a nationwide assessment of the current state of radio stations in the country.
She said the team assessed 163 radio stations in the entire country, and following the assessment a rigorous process was carried out, which led to the selection of thirty (30) community radio stations for partnership over the next five years.
Bach said each radio station was selected based on certain criteria, including independence, and Internews will work with the selected stations to build their capacity through training and mentoring with a well-established sustainability plan for each radio station.
“You have been selected to work with us for 5 years, and we want to do very comprehensive mentoring and training program and to assist you to be sustainable in the future,” said Bach.
Internews Senior Media Advisor, Jefferson Massah, providing a detailed explanation of how the thirty (30) community radio stations were selected said the process was free, fair, and transparent as a committee was setup with ALICOR, USAID Liberia, FeJAL, PUL, including Internews Radio staff serving as members on the vetting committee.
Massah said over the next five years Internews will work to provide capacity building through training, providing logistical support such as solar panel and other equipment, and working on sustainability model for the long-term growth and revenue generating capacity of the 30 community radio stations.
He said the selection of the 30 radio partners was based on data collected during the National Radio Assessment, and several criteria were considered, including community ownership of the radio station; community involvement and participation in the management of the radio stations, including the inclusion of marginalized groups, addressing gender equity, ensuring youth engagement and community generated content, with an emphasis on local cultures and identities, independent broadcasting and transparency and accountability in practice through oversight by independent boards, staff capacity, commitment of the radio leadership to make a viable and sustainable change, geographical location (including providing services to underserved areas, rural/urban presence, and proximity to other stations, among others), positive experience with previous external support, and would benefit from further support, and population size served by the radio station.