By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia-The Liberia Media Center (LMC) with Support from the Multi stakeholders Forest Governance Project is conducting a four-day workshop for Journalists in Monsterrado, Margibi and Bomi Counties.
The workshop, which kicked off on Tuesday, June 30, 2020, is the third County Reform Forest Reporting Training for Media workers across the country under the auspices of the Multi stakeholders Forest Governance Accountability Project.
It will enable them have in-depth knowledge of things that Constitute Forest Reporting, Ensuring Gender and social inclusion, Transparency and Accountability.
During the training, Reporters are being acquainted with the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) VPA signed between the Government of Liberia and the European Union and the FLEGT to ensure legal compliance in the timber trade in Liberia, especially between Liberia and Europe.
The Monrovia training will create linkages between Forest stakeholders, the Community and the Relavant Government Agencies.
The Training also intends to have exclusive session on Global Pandemic to bring Journalists up to speed with basic facts about the virus, preventive mechanisms and types of the messages to be aired for Public.
Over 18 Journalists from various Media Institutions are attending the training worker from the News Public Trust Newspaper and online media outlet, KMTV, Ok FM, Truth FM, Fabrics FM Herriagte Newspaper, FrontPageAfrica and other media outlets in Montosrreado and Gbapolu Counties
According to Francis Brewer, one of the Program Directors at the Liberia Media Center, the workshop is intended to build the and strength the Capacity of Liberian Journalists to develop interest in Forest Reporting.
He said it is a three-year project and that Journalists have been trained in Buchanan, Grand Bassa and Ganta Nimba Counties on the County Reform Forest Reporting.
Also Speaking during Tuesday’s training workshop was Mr. Aothnany Vanwan, who said the workshop is meant for Liberian Journalists to grow interest in the forest sector.
But he called on Liberian Journalists to focus their attention in Reporting on Forest matters and stop running after press conferences and donation stories.
The MFGAP Communication Officer said monitoring and evaluation project head wondered why many concession companies are adhering to its social responsibilities to various communities but yet still it is not benefiting the communities.
In a brief remark, Mr. Vanwan said if Journalists can develop their interest in Reporting on Forest matter, if hold stakeholders Responsible and accountable.
“I know it’s is not easy working but in Liberia base on Passion but let’s create interest in Reporting on Forest in Liberia and I’m glad that you all have gathered here to participate in this training,” Mr. Vanwan Said.