To help enhance the professional output of the National Media Council, the Press Union of Liberia and its partner Internews/USAID will on Friday, August 24, 2018 commence a two-day retreat on Alternative Disputes Resolution (ADR).
The event will review the activities of the National Media Council (NMC); cases it has mediated involving possible defamation action against media entities, a PUL press release said on Wednesday.
Day One of the National Media Council Retreat will focus on strengthening prompt and speedy mediations of issues arising from journalism in Liberia; discussing low points to refresh ethical deposition in the spirit of good journalism. Topics to be treated for the day includes Introduction to ADR, Mediation- listening skills, gathering information technique, negotiating wins, investigating independently, collating and analyzing evidence (party claims and witnesses) and style.
Mediation as an ADR process, case intake procedure, case recording, tracking and documenting; Discussing and Developing the Standard operating Procedures for NMC Work, position and role of NMC in resolving media related conflict, NMC’ relation to the rule of Law and Press Freedom, NMC core values, Integrity and impartiality, Information dissemination and branding will as well be treated.
Day Two of the NMC Retreat will mediate the criminal cohesion case brought against Journalist Eric Old-pa Duo after he reported on the status of an earth moving machine owned by the people of Rivercess County.
The criminal cohesion case has since been withdrawn from court and turnovered to the National Media Council for amicable resolution.
Cllr. Jallah Barbu, Legal Education Consultant, Her Honor, Eva Mappy Morgan, Chief Judge, Commercial Court, and Cllr. Kpadeson Sumo will serve as facilitators at the retreat.
Besides members of the National Media Council, representatives from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority, Liberia Media Center, Center for Peacebuilding and Media Studies and the Press Union of Liberia will participate in the NMC Retreat.
The event will be held at 9am at Charlie Hotel, Buchanan on Friday 24th August through Sunday 26th August in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) on April 25, 2017 launched the National Media Council & the Union’s Revised Code of Ethics for Liberian Journalists as part of efforts to enhance the self-regulatory regime of the Liberian Media.
The National Media Council was established for the purpose of self-regulating media accountability and professional conduct in Liberia, pursuant to the journalism Code of Ethics. It is the improved successor of the Media Complaints Committee of the PUL.
Members of the Council are: J. Emmanuel Z. Bowier, Chairman (Media Rep.) former Information Minister; Ruth Caesar, Co-chairperson (Women Rep) Former Planning Minister and Board Chair Women NGO Secretariat, Anthony K. Selmah, (Media Rep) former Minister Counselor for Press & Public Affairs, Liberia Embassy in London, UK; Ledgerhood Rennie, (Media Rep) LBS Director General, Atty. Bobby Livingstone (Academia Rep) Chairman, Mass Comm. Dept. United Methodist University.
Others are Rev. Fr. Gabriel MMK. Sawyer (Religious Rep), Catholic Priest, Sheik Akibu Sheriff (Religious Rep), Secretary-General/National Muslim Council, B. McCarthy Weh, II (Legislature Rep) Head of Legislative Information Service and Roseline K. Toweh (CSO Rep) Head of the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA).
The Council members were selected after a rigorous vetting process, followed by orientations on the operational framework of the NMC and the Revised Code of Ethics for Liberian Journalists.
Since then, the Council has acted appropriately on issues arising from the works of journalists and demanding adherence to the highest journalistic standards in Liberia and as well protected the rights of journalists.