At ALICOR Officials’ Induction In Gbarnga, Hails Liberian Journalists For Constructively Influencing The “Degree Of Serenity” Over The Years
PHOTO: Sen. Prince K. Moye of Bong County delivering the keynote address
The free press, when independently and responsibly governed, can serve as a catalyst for sustained peace, tranquility and prosperity, while also propelling sustainable national development across various sectors of our country. –FULL TEXT OF SEN. MOYE’S SPEECH BELOW
Story by Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- As a new corps of elected officials of the Liberia Association of Community Radio (ALICOR) were inducted into office today, Saturday, September 14, 2024, they got the commitment of a ranking member of the Liberian Senate, Senator Prince Moye to throw his weight behind the passage of the Community Radio Sustainability Bill that has been at the Legislature for several years now.
“It is against this backdrop that we have, and will remain supportive of various media endeavors geared towards empowering Community Radio stations for effective and accurate information gathering, processing and dissemination,” the Bong County Lawmaker said in his keynote address at the ceremony held in Gbarnga city hall in the central Bong County.
The Bill calls for an annual budgetary allocation of funds to support community radio stations across the country. This fund will be managed transparently, and with strict oversight to ensure accountability.
According to the Community Radio Sustainability Bill, a regulatory framework shall be included to safeguard the independence of community radio stations, protecting them from political and commercial pressures.
While underscoring the crucial role the community radio stations and the media play in building a vibrant democracy, Sen. Moye, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways, Means and Finance, cautioned that “Journalists should not just be fascinated by the political interest in such sensational headlines, but must as well endeavor to highlight the contributions of ordinary people to nation building.”
The Bong County Senator called on Liberian Journalists to engage in “high-quality investigative Media reporting,” something he said, “has the power to unearth the truths behind the operations of public and private institutions, thereby restoring credibility and trust in the workings of systems.”
ALICOR’s President, Hector Mulbah promised that his administration will do everything to revitalize the community radio sector and undertake projects aimed at making the Association sustainable, as donor partners would not remain in Liberia forever. One of the projects he cited is plan by ALICOR to undertake the construction of a community radio village hosting a guest house, production and training facilities.
To kick off his personal support to the planned project, Sen. Moye ‘symbolically launched a rally at Saturday’s induction ceremony. He donated an initial amount of one hundred thousand Liberian dollars (LD$100,000.00, which was followed by other donations by guests attending the program.
Other ALICOR officials inducted to run the Association for the next three years include two Vice Presidents for Administration and Operations, Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General.
The induction ceremony was attended by officials of the USAID funded Internews headed by USAID Media Activity Advisor, Jefferson Massah, Bong County Superintendent’s office, ALICOR’s Board members led by the Chairman, Mr. Teah, Doegmah, scores of community radio Journalists as well as residents of Gbarnga.
Between 2021 and 2022, Internews Liberia conducted a national radio assessment, which revealed that there were 63 community radio stations spread across the country.
Sen. Prince Moye being congratulated for his speech by the newly elected ALICOR Secretary General
BELOW IS FULL TEXT OF SEN. PRINCE MOYE’S KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
The Chairman and Members of the Board of ALICOR;
Officials, Officers-elect and Members of ALICOR and the Broader Media community;
Invited Guests, well wishers, sympathizers and friends of the Liberian Media;
Government Officials and foreign partners here present;
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
With heartwarming honor, I am please to accept your invitation to guest speak at the occasion marking the official induction of officers-elect of your noble organization.
Ever since the start of my political career and even before, I have worked closely with the media to advance the cause of the Liberian people and promote peace, reconciliation and good governance. I intent to continue working with the Liberian media on issues relating to the wellbeing of the Liberian people, and the development of our dear country.
I am pleased to speak to you all on the SUBJECT: THE MEDIA AS A PARTNER IN THE GOVERNENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE
The Liberian democratic environment has experienced a degree of serenity over the years due in part to the constructive influence of the free press. The free press, when independently and responsibly governed, can serve as a catalyst for sustained peace, tranquility and prosperity, while also propelling sustainable national development across various sectors of our country.
From all indications, the Liberian media will continue to play a pivotal role in sustaining and maintaining the peace and further strengthening the country’s democracy. As journalists, it can be tempting to get caught up in the sensational, captivating headlines engulfed by sentimental imbalances. Journalists should not just be fascinated by the political interest in such sensational headlines, but must as well endeavor to highlight the contributions of ordinary people to nation building.
If a teacher is giving his utmost best in his call to duty, he probably deserves to be mentioned by the media, if a nurse is consistently providing optimum care for her patients, the media should highlight her work, likewise if a police officer is diligently and noticeably serving in his line of duty, he also deserves honorable mention by the media. For it is by giving attention to these little things that everyone will be motivated to give their best in service to country.
Media reporting, and especially high-quality investigative Media reporting has the power to unearth the truths behind the operations of public and private institutions, thereby restoring credibility and trust in the workings of systems.
It is against this backdrop that we have, and will remain supportive of various media endeavors geared towards empowering Community Radio stations for effective and accurate information gathering, processing and dissemination.
Remember though, that whatever you spill out to the public can have far-reaching consequences on the population. Therefore, I urge you all journalists to always report with high degree of professionalism, bearing in mind that the peacefulness of our country might just depend on the ethical boundaries along which you base your reports.
Rural populations largely rely on community media institutions for the information they need to make social, economic and political decisions that eventually impact them. This is one reason while ALICOR as an organization must remain committed to ensuring the sustainability of these community radio institutions, while also ensuring they honor the ethical and professional responsibilities associated with the journalistic profession.
I want to use this occasion to thank the outgoing leadership for stirring the affairs of ALICOR for the last couple of years, and to encourage the incoming leadership to build on the gains made and propel the organization unto greater achievements. As you assume the leadership if ALICOR today, I admonish you to uphold the tenants of good governance.
Be accountable, be answerable for whatever you do on behalf of your organization, be open and transparent in your dealings, be innovative and opened to change, and most importantly, put the interest of ALICOR high above yours. The public will be closely and carefully watching to see whether you practice exactly what you have always preached. They will judge you by the high standards to which you hold others.
As leaders of the organization, there will be times when your reputations will be dragged through the mud, just like you sometimes do to ours. Be tolerant, and take up time to clarify the facts if you have to save your images. Do not go after members of your organization who will criticize you, rather seek constructive engagements with them and give them the real picture.
True leaders will take a little more than their share of the blame and a little less than their share of the credit.
As an association, I urge you to always guide your member institutions and their staff against misinformation and disinformation. The public deserves so much better.
We as public officials serve for a specify amount of time, but remember the media governs forever. The media has an unbending responsibility to hold the whole of society in check, for the common good of the state and its people. I want you all to be proud of this responsibility.
I want to use this occasion to call on all journalists, public relations personnel, media executives, and all other media practitioners to be steadfast and unwavering in your quest for a better society, be diligent and forward thinking, but more importantly, be ethical and truthful in your service to our people and country. The quality and level of progress we make as a government is directly proportional to the quality of work you do. A fair and credible media is the lifeblood of a transparent and progressive society.
As a government, we are intentional in ensuring that media practitioners and institutions are independent of political reprisals and manipulations. Under our watch as officials of government, the media will not be intimidated and censored. The media will be given the chance to report without fear or favor, and the media doesn’t even have to be loyal to the government, but rather to the people.
Thankfully, the Abdulai Kamara Press Freedom Act of 2019 ushered in a new era for the Liberian Media, an era that ensures protection of the rights of all journalists in their strides to ethically and factually report without being intimidated.
Beyond that, we will continue to support the efforts of community media institutions in their quest to improve citizens’ access to public information and to train community radio personnel in ways that espouse quality journalistic ideals. This is the commitment we make to you today and henceforth.
God bless you all, God bless the Liberian media, and God bless our dear country.
Thank you all!