-Frank Sainworla is 2018 laurel in honour of Joe Wolubah Mulbah
By William Selmah wselmah@gmail.com and Kaipee Newray
The Managing Editor of the Public Trust Media Group (PTMG), publishers of Liberia’s youngest independent news outlet www.newspublictrust.com , Mr. Frank Sainworl, Jr. has won the media component of this year’s Golden Image National Award.
The Veteran Liberian Journalist and Managing Editor of the Public Trust Media Group (PTMG) Frank Sainworla, was among several local and international personalities honored at this year’s Golden Image Awards ceremony in Monrovia.
Mr. Sainworla scooped the medal named in honor of fallen veteran Liberia Journalist and University of Liberia Mass Communication Professor Joe Wolubah Mulbah for his outstanding services to the state and its people through his work in the media.
The Golden Image Awards are national meritorious medals presented to individuals, organizations and countries that have made selfless contributions to peace, health, development, education leadership, justice, arts and culture and human development locally, nationally and internationally.
The ceremony has been a part of Liberia’s annual Independence Day celebrations since 2011. It is named after former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the face of the Awards.
President George Weah attended this year’s awards ceremony at the Monrovia City Hall Thursday evening, with former Vice President Joseph Boakai, the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries gracing the occasion, which was organized by the Golden Image Awards Team led by Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador Juli Endee who head the Liberia Crusaders for Peace.
Other outstanding personalities who received the 2018 Golden Image Awards in both the national and international categories. (A full list of the honourees will be published later when received from the organizers)
Journalist Sainworla had in time past won several other laurels including the Press Union of Liberia Journalist of the Year award.
A Fulbright Fellow, Mr. Sainworla has served in various capacities including Secretary General of the Press Union of Liberia, Editor of the English Service of the West Africa Democracy Radio, Manager of Radio Veritas (now renamed Radio Maria) and Moderator of the 2011 Presidential Debates.
A Lecturer at the state owned University of Liberia Mass Communications Department, Journalist Sainworla used to be Editor-In-Chief at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS), a former Station Manager of the Catholic run Radio VERITAS now Radio Maria.
The Veteran Liberian Journalist is also author of the book ‘’BORDERLESS BEATS -Seeking Hope and Help for our World, A Journalist’s view’’ published in 2011.
Mr. Sainworla expressed enthusiasm and lauded Ambassador Juli Endee, Executive Director of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace on Thursday July 19, 2018 for the honored.
‘’I’m happy to be a proud winner of the 2018 Golden Image Award (Winner of the Joe Mulbah Media Award).
Thanks to the great award team led by Ambassador Juli Endee who have added real gold to my golden years in Journalism and still counting till death. Patriotism, hard work and professionalism are the hallmarks of this Award’’
He said in these words ‘’my tenacity and commitment to good Journalism remains unbending. Journalism is to serve the public interest and the greatest good for the greatest number’’.
Mr. Frank Sainworla, a 2001-2002 US State Department sponsored Hubert Humphrey Fellow, has greatly contributed to improving the state of Journalism in Liberia and national development.
He says on his Facebook page: ‘’serving the public trust is my commitment and this Golden Image of patriotism, love of our dear country, Liberia and loyalty to the nation will never wither.”
The Public Trust Media Group’s Managing Editor has always said in his brand of Journalism “I’ve no foe, but let the chips fall where they may.”
Minutes after the occasion, he started receiving congratulatory messages globally as a 2018 Golden Image Award recipient from relatives, friends, fans and supporters on the Social Media platform, Facebook.
A former workmate at West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) in Dakar, Senegal, RFI and London Guardian Correspondent, Mr. Sheriff Bojan Junior also congratulated Frank Sainworla by saying: ‘’ you are a great person and a great journalist’’.
Journalist Sainworla from 1998-2013 served as Head of the English Desk at WADR, before returning home.
His only surviving brother John W. Sainworla said from the United States, ‘’My brother Frank, You have made and continue to make sacrifices by delivering news to our people unfiltered. You have and continue to make sacrifices that many wouldn’t make. You truly deserve such award.’’
Veteran Liberian Journalist John Kollie of the LMDI had this to say ‘’Great, work hard and reap great results brother. I am not surprised because you deserve it chief’’.
A former Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) Darryl Ambrose Nmah, Sr said ‘’you truly deserve it, congratulations Frank.’’
For his part, a young and award winning Journalist, who now reports for the online news outlet, Bush Chicken, Gbatema success Kolee Senah, a former student of Journalist Sainworla said: “Congratulations to my mentor and one of Liberia’s most respectable journalists, Frank Sainworla as a recipient of the 2018 Golden Image Award. Continue to inspire me!”