PHOTO: Mr. Joel Maybury, US Deputy Chief of Mission
By Frank Sainworla, Jr., fsainworla@yahoo.com
The US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission has said he is impressed with the vibrancy of the Liberian media, but warned that the financial undercapitalization of the local media could make it “vulnerable to pay-for-play”.
This idiom refers to by www.freedictionary.com as “something in which one must pay money to be able to participate” and it denotes a “situation in which payment is demanded, often illegally, from those wishing to take part in a particular business activity.”
The Liberian media is heavily undercapitalized, with most media outlet not being able to pay Journalist and media workers a living wage.
Speaking at the launch of the USAID Media Activity in Liberia today, Thursday, March 17, 2022 at a local hotel in Monrovia, Joel Maybury said the US government remains committed to promoting a free and vibrant media which is vital to sustaining a vibrant democracy.
US and Internews officials
Internews says “the USAID Media Activity is a five-year project aimed at enhancing the human and institutional capacity of Liberia’s media sector while advocating for and maintaining current media freedom to reliably carry out responsible Journalism.”
Mr. Maybury told the launch event that USAID and Internews have over the years supported and worked with Liberia towards development of the Liberian media, citing a number of achievement including decriminalizing speech through the passage of the Kamara A. Kamara Act, the setting of the National Media Council, among other things.
The US diplomat said President Joe Biden underscored the significance of a vibrant media in strengthening democracy at the recent global democracy forum he hosted, democracy, stressing the important role of investigative Journalists who are on the frontline in the fight against corruption.
Participants at the launch event
Mr. Maybury also spoke of the urgent need to lift the media out of the economic crisis they are facing, with many of the outlets in Liberia and elsewhere finding it difficult to survive daily and weekly.
According to him, it is very difficult to work in a career “you are passionate about when you can hardly feed your family.”
The US Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission spoke of the crucial role advertisement plays in the economic survival of media houses.
The American diplomat, who used to be a Journalist practicing in the United States many years ago, called on businesses and advertisers in Liberia to partner with the country’s media, describing such relationship and collaboration as “symbiotic”.
For her part, Internews President, Jeanne Bourgault spoke at the launch even via video link from the US, saying that her institution’s key mission is to empower the citizens by holding government accountable, with the media producing good, reliable and important information.
Madam Bourgault was quick to point out that it is only with the blend of government’s commitment, fantastic partners in Liberia that the mission of Internews will be achieve.
The USAID Internews Media Activity Project is partnering with five local media development organizations in Liberia CEMESP, LMDI, ALICOR, Talking Drum Studio, YMA and FeJAL.