PHOTO: RAL leadership posted s for a photo with Deputy Minister for MICAT, Jarlawah A. Tonpo
It is the first of its kind in recent times for authorities at the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism to share notes with the leadership of the Reporters Association of Liberia (RAL).
The RAL officials also used the meeting to speak against recent police brutality against Journalists.
Deputy Minister of Information for Public Affairs, Jarlawah A. Tonpo completed a visit at the office of the Reporters Association of Liberia as he seeks good working partnership with the institution.
Deputy Minister Tonpo was speaking on Monday, August 2, 2021 when he met with a delegation from the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism at the office RAL to have talks, said a RAL press release signed by its Secretary General, Mark Mengonfia.
Deputy Minister Tonpo said he has gone to meet with the leaders of the Institution who he considered as one of the stakeholders in the Liberian Media for a discussion sounding smooth working relationship with the Ministry and reporters in the field.
The release quotes Mr. Tonpo as saying that the meeting was not intended to thin the truthful reports of any reporter, but said they want reporters do the ABC of journalism.
According to him, facts checking and balancing the information the reporters get is what they at the MICAT want from the reporters of Liberia and not any collaboration that will weaken any fact they have gathered for news purposes.
Deputy Minister Tonpo said all these suggestions he was receiving from his interactions will be forwarded to Minister Ledgerhood Julius Rennie who himself is a media worker for a possible way forward.
He said they at the Information Ministry will review all those suggestions and see how best they build a good working relationship with RAL and other institutions.
Also speaking, RAL’s President, Cecelia G. Clarke congratulated Mr. Tonpo for his new post and thanked the Deputy Information Minister for recognizing the Reporters Association of Liberia as a stakeholder in the Liberian media.
Responding to the question asked by the Deputy Minister Tonpo as to how the two institutions can work together, Mrs. Clarke requested for collaboration between the two institutions (RAL and MICAT) to conduct training sessions with reporters and securities.
She said many at time reporters are victims of security brutalities with the recent one being OK FM reporter, Nyantee Togba- a situation in Liberia that has caused serious misunderstanding between journalists and national securities.
Constant brutality against Journalists according to RAL’s President, Clarke is very worrisome adding that reporters are performing a task and serving as a bridge between the public and the government.
The RAL president said: “I look forward to the proposed training that will help to explain the roles of the two institutions.”
During the visit, the Deputy Minister did his need needs assessment and promised to get back to the RAL leader on how best they at the Ministry of Information can help the institution in their own way.
Police brutality against Journalists
In another development, the RAL leadership is calling on the Liberia National Police (LNP) to make public the report regarding harassment against reporters Molley Kiazolu of FARBRIC Radio, Hannah N. Geterminah of Daily Observer Newspaper and Nyantee Togba OK FM.
According to her, these kinds of harassments should not be happening in a country that its President has undone draconian laws against journalists- a move that we, reporters have since welcomed.
But with all these efforts, reporters are still treated with disrespect and are even beaten on my State securities for doing a piece of work.