PHOTO: Journalist Frank Sainworla, Jr.
By Samuel G. Dweh—freelance development journalist—+231 (0)886618906/776583266/samuelosophy@yahoo.com
A versatile Liberian broadcast Journalist, Frank Boi Sainworla, Jr. has spoken strongly against corruption in the Liberian media, the larger community, deception by President Weah and other officials in the CDC government and called the United States attention to other key issues.
“The unsolved US$100,000.00 Press Union of Liberia’s headquarters project scandal continues to cast a dark cloud on the credibility and integrity of the Union and Liberian Journalism as a whole. As you know, this amount in question was given by the Government of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf a number of years ago. Indeed, this US$100-thousand saga continues to impinge on the integrity standing of the Union. And closure must be brought to this long-running financial scam. All those who allegedly embezzled, misappropriated and funneled the funds, which should have given us a headquarters building by now, must be made to account,” he pointed to one of the often-heralded issues in the Liberian Media space.
Mr. Sainworla, Managing Editor of the Public Trust Media Group which runs www.newspublictrust.com, made the assertions during his Keynote Speech at 6th Graduating set of the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism (PQSJ), held Thursday, December 23, 2021 at the Victory Outreach Church in Monrovia’s Congo Town suburb.
Speaking further on the PUL’s headquarters issues, Mr. Sainworla declared: “If we must hold politicians and newsmakers accountable, then we, Journalists, too must have the moral authority to do so. We must practice what we preach. We, Journalists, alternative called Watchdogs, are not above the law in society, leading many members of the public to always ask: “Who watches the Watchdogs?” The Future of Journalism In Liberia: Challenges & Prospects – News Public Trust
The Executive Director of the Public Trust Media Group (PTMG), owner of the Public Trust newspaper, Mr. Sainworla spoke on the theme: “The Future of Journalism in Liberia: Challenges & Prospects.”
He distinguished self-reliant media practice from the bought-over one: “A vibrant, ethical and independent media is not a media that is in bed with or in the pocket of the ruling establishment. Neither is a vibrant, ethical and independent media a media that is in bed with or in the pocket of the opposition of special interest groups or political parties,” the former Station Manager of Radio Veritas, of the Catholic Church of Liberia told the audience.
The (leadership) of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has some handicaps in effectively carrying out its monitoring and regulatory roles on the Country’s media community, Mr. Sainworla said.
“The Press Union of Liberia or independent Liberian Journalism is at a crossroad. It is high time for the PUL to clearly establish the following: Who is a Journalist? What are the basic criteria needed for one to practice as a Journalist? What makes a Journalist different from a Public Relations Officer or a political commentator? At a national media convention sometime in the near future, these questions must be answered,” he said.
The leaders of the Liberian Journalism community should do a SWOT— Strength, Opportunity, Weakness and Threat—Analysis, the former Chairman of the PUL’s Grievance & Ethics Committee, and former Secretary General of the Union advised. “This will adequately prepare us for future challenges. We must scrupulously adhere to categories of PUL membership, in line with PUL constitution as to who can be considered a full member or Associate member,” he added.
He expatiated on SWOT of the Liberian Media Community. On the Strength, he talked about Liberia “being blessed with a core group of committed, passionate and determined human resources, who are prepared to protect, promote and responsibly defend press freedom and free speech–now and tomorrow.” On “Weakness”, he mentioned “Undercapitalization of the media; lack of insurance, poor or no pay and conditions of service; Shortcoming in following up on stories.”
“With the enormous power the media wield in this our democratic space, government, private businesses and other corporate entities must step up their advertising budget and partner with the media more. The media must come forward by enhancing a more competitive environment,” the veteran Radio Journalist said, when on the Opportunity.
He also lamented every Radio Station’s brag about being the “Number One” Station in the Country.
“Nowadays, every radio station now claims to be #1 in a vacuum. But, sadly, on no social-scientific basis—even the one just popping up in just weeks. Independent ratings are what is done in other African counties, Europe, the US and elsewhere. There’s a need for media development groups to invest in commissioning independent media Ratings agency to do social-scientific research—audience surveys to derive at ratings of print and electronic media outlets in Liberia,” the Keynote Speaker disclosed his observation to the gathering of teachers and students at the event.
He urged the new breed of Journalists to take advantage of the information-sharing and business marketing opportunities for the global readership provided by advent of the “Social and Digital Media”
“Let’s redefine our relationship with readers, listeners and viewers whose interests are diverse,” the soft-speaking senior, experienced Journalist advised.
On “Threat”, Mr. Sainworla cautioned the going-out media practitioners: “there is no story worth dying for”, and mentioned Zennu Miller of OK FM and Christopher Walker of FrontPage Africa newspaper, who had become victims of brutality by State Security officers during George Weah’s Presidency. “Threat against Liberian Journalists is real, and it comes through brutality by state security forces and other kinds of attacks, the vast majority of which are yet to be redressed. After pressure from the PUL and the media community, President George Weah sometime ago set up a presidential investigation committee headed by Presidential Advisor, Dr. Lawrence Bropleh. But after over a year now, there is no outcome of the probe, no findings have been made public. There appears to be little political will to stamp it,” he added.
On self-security, Mr. Sainworla advised Journalists to “Always be on the alert. As long as we are pursuing the truths and speaking truth to power—both in an outside government—Journalists become targets.”
Liberia is not the only Country on the book of State Security officers’ brutal actions against Journalists, the Keynote Speaker said during his ‘comparison’. As his proof, he quoted a report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that documented, released on December 9, 2021. The report states, Mr. Sainworla quoted, 24 Journalists had been killed and 293 journalists currently in prison.
He advised the young Journalists to use “creative way” to protect their lives against irrational armed State security officers against investigating media practitioners, taking into consideration the “first rule of nature—self-preservation,” he said
However, the Keynote Speaker warned the Journalists against what he called “self-inflicted threat”. He said: “Some of Journalists bent on engaging in blackmail to extort money from newsmakers. Nowadays, some of our radio talk show hosts want to act and sound like political commentators such as Henry Cost and Menekpkei Dumoin.”
Mr. Sainworla declared his support against “political ownership of the media,” he declared, and mentioned names of some of the role models of the anti-politicization of the media: Varney Kamara, Investigative Journalist; and Siatta Scott Johnson President of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL)
Mr. Sainworla was Editor-In-Chief of the State-owned ELBC during Liberia’s first post-war presidential elections (won by Charles Taylor), characterized by State security officers’ brutal actions against many of the media persons covering the campaigning activities and the voting processes. He predicted journalists’ fate “in the run up to the 2023 elections. This threat will become more pronounced. They are doing it under the guise of opening community radios,” he said about politicians.
On the mitigating role of the Press Union of Liberia on politicization of the media, the Keynote Speaker said: “The PUL must act decisively by naming and shaming those media actors using the radio to instill division and hatred. A clear line must be drawn between community radio and political propaganda radio.”
He suggested establishment of a Liberian Independent Media Conservation Endowment Fund to address these media-related problems.
He advised the graduating students, going into the media practice community, against asking for or accepting “kato” or “kafu”, a Liberian code name for money from a party in a conflict to investigating journalist to report a one-sided story in favor of the money giver.
“We must be even-handed and don’t be biased and influenced by “Kato” or “kafu” lying in our belly. But we must be accurate, balanced and fair, with malice to no one, and not even our detractors. Report the truth, and nothing but the truth,” he cautioned the graduates.
On role models of integrity-based journalism in (post-civil war) Liberia, the only Liberian Journalist chosen to cover the Trial of former Liberian President (Mr. Charles McAurther Taylor) in the Hague, mentioned his name and 11 other Journalists: Steve Kenneh, Harvey Rogers, Bockarie Musa, Hassan Kiawu, Decontee Jackson, William Dweh, TeteeKarneh, ZeogarJaynes, Chesty Gbongon, Janet Johnson and Winston “Geebamu” Monbo.
CDC Gov’t deception vs. truth telling
On “truth telling” in Liberia’s political circle, the Keynote Speaker praised ‘Presidential candidate’ George Manneh Weah in the presidential and Legislative elections in 2005 on disclosure of being a grade school dropout during appearance on Radio Veritas on presidential debate co-hosted by Frank Sainworla. But the co-host was engaged, he revealed at the PQSJ’s 6th Graduating ceremony, by Acarious Moses Gray, Mulbah Morlu, and Rufus Neufville—three Stewarts—of George Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)—expressing their dissatisfaction over the ‘honesty’ of their party’s Political Leader/Presidential candidate (George Manneh Weah) on his academic status (high school drop-out)
“They were enraged against admission of the then CDC Presidential candidate (now President George MannehWeah) that he did not graduate from high school at the Well Hairston High School, a response by the then-presidential candidate to one of my penetrating follow-up questions,” Keynote Speaker Frank Sainworla recalled.
In the Presidential Garment, George Manneh Weah has pulled out his ‘truth-telling clothes’ he had on in 2005, Keynote Speaker Sainworla insinuated.
“President Weah and his CDC began this trend of deception back in 2018, with the re-roofing of over 200 homes in the Gibraltar community in the Clara Town suburb of Monrovia. At the time, the new Liberian leader declared that he would personally pay for the reroofing of the private homes to give back to an area he grew up; before becoming the multimillion dollar international professional footballer before becoming President on January 22, 2018.
Now a national ruling Party, the (Coalition) for Democratic Change (CDC)—changed from (Congress) of Democratic Change (CDC)—is causing similar political problems the ruling Unity Party was being accused of,” Keynote Speaker Frank Sainworla said.
“Another clear sign of lack of transparency, deception and insincerity has come with the latest “Invincible Sport Park” project being constructed near the James Spriggs Payne Airfield in Monrovia’s Sinkor suburb,” Sainworla told his hosts.
The Keynote Speaker came to the Legislative Branch of Government, expressed his disenchantment against “over US$30 thousand” being given to each Representative and Senator as ‘Legislative Engagement Fund—an extra National Budgetary Allotment for each Legislator’s ‘meetings’ with residents of his or her County or Electoral District to collect information about development issues for solution.
“With a big rise in the draft national budget of close to US$800 million in the fiscal year 2022/2023, not even five US dollars has been added to the meager salaries of civil servants,” Mr. Sainworla expressed his empathy with the citizens who are the main ‘backbone’ of Liberia’s development, and urged the journalists to report on the salary disparity.
Reminding the United States
Keynote Speaker Sainworla also came on America on Liberian politics.
He began with the United States Government’s recent “pay for play” corruption allegations against and sanctions on former warlord Prince Y. Johnson, who is now Senator, and explained how it was done.
“Here is how the Americans described “pay for play in a US Embassy statement issued in Monrovia on December 9, 2021,” he began. “ ‘As a Senator, Johnson has been involved in pay-for-play funding with government ministries and organizations for personal enrichment. As part of the scheme, upon receiving funding from the Government of Liberia (GOL), the involved government ministries and organizations launder a portion of the funding for return to the involved participants. The pay-for-play funding scheme involves millions of U.S. dollars. Johnson has also offered the sale of votes in multiple Liberian elections in exchange for money’.”
For the Liberian Media’s part on the U.S. Government’s engagement with Mr. Prince Y. Johnson brouhaha, the veteran Liberian Journalist said: “Indeed, we, Journalists, have a challenge through our reportage to ask the hard questions.”
“Why was the US silent for years during the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s regime, when Senator Prince Y. Johnson served as Chairman of the Liberian Senate Standing Committee on Defense and National Security for almost the duration of that administration?” he posed a rhetorical question to his hosts, one of the inquiries he hopes Liberian journalists would pose to the U.S. Government one day.
“Liberian Journalists also have a challenge to enlighten the Liberian people by asking: what kind of relationship did the Americans have with the very Prince Johnson and his rebel INPFL in 1990?”
Keynote Speaker Frank Sainworla also veered into the issues of America’s involvement with the case of Mr. Charles McAurthur Taylor, why had ‘mysteriously’ walked out of America’s Federal detention cell, followed by his launch of civil in Liberia.
“Our traditional friends must come clear as to the actual circumstances surrounding how former NPFL rebel leader and ex-President Charles Ghankay Taylor broke jail in a US high security federal prison? And how he ended up doing military training in Libya in the late 1980s—then at the height of the Cold War, especially ending up in a Western ally country, Ivory Coast, from where he launched his rebel invasion on Christmas eve of 1989?”
His Keynote Address ended on the Graduating Class.
He began with his personal reportorial records. “I’ve covered multiple elections in Liberia.”
On the Graduating Class, the veteran journalist warned the body of younger media people to replace the aged or retired ones. “Humble yourselves!”
On the ‘fruits of humility’, using his personal story, he said: “At different times I’ve won all of the PUL Journalism awards in Liberia: Best Journalist of the Year, Best Talk Show host, best radio program producer of the year, etc.”
He also spoke about his journalistic achievements outside of his Country: “I’ve covered elections in Mauritania, the Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, the United States of America, among others.”
On professional service for the development of the Country, Journalists is on par with other professionals in the world—doctors, engineers, Lawyers, etc., the renowned Liberian journalist informed his hosts. “You are relevant on contribution to the development of my beloved Mama Liberia as the other professionals are,” he said.
In his concluding statement, Keynote Frank Boi Sainworla said to the PQSJ’s exiting students: “If you want to succeed in this noble profession and be a Journalist of professional integrity, please stay clear of mixing politics and propaganda with Journalism.”
Background of Peter Quaqua School of Journalism
The Peter Quaqua School of Journalism (PQSJ) is named in honor of Peter Quaqua, former president of the Press Union of Liberia.
During an interview with this writer, PQSJ’s Executive Director, Mr. Titus Tokpah, said the School is an auxiliary of the MediaAid Foundation, established 5th day of August, 2014, and began educational operations on March 16, 2015.
“The 6th Graduating Class brings the total number of PQSJ’s graduating sets to 500, from 2016 to 2021,” Mr. Tokpah explained further.
Each of the 125 students got Advanced Diploma in Journalism and Media Relations,Mr. Titus Tokpah supplied additional information.
“The name of 6th Graduating Class is Kua Kei, meaning “We Do It”, of the Mano dialect of Nimba County,” the School’s E.D. said.