New Castle, Delaware – The Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, is this year’s keynote speaker for the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas’ (ALJA) annual benefit banquet. The banquet, which is annual event forms part of activities being organized by the Association for its 2018 Annual National Convention slated to be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The convention will be held on the theme: Improved Media and Government Relationship: Recipe for a Stable and Peaceful Liberia. It will kick-off on October 4th with the arrival of journalists in the twin cities and ends on Sunday, October 7th with a thanksgiving service.
According to an ALJA press release, the Minister of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), Lenn Eugene Nagbe, will also, make special presentation on behalf of the Liberian government at the high profile media gathering. Minister Nagbe and the eminent Liberian opposition political leader will speak at the prestigious Double Tree Hotel in Minneapolis where the banquet will be held.
The occasion will bring together scores of Liberian journalists in the diaspora and a high powered delegation of journalists from Liberia headed by the President of the Press Union of Liberia, Charles Coffey. Also, expected to grace the occasion, are officials of the Liberian government, US-based Liberian entertainers and community leaders, and friends of the Liberian media.
At this year’s convention, ALJA will partner with the Africa Institute for International Reporting (AIIR) to provide training for attendees. The training, which will be hosted by the city of Brooklyn Center in Minnesota, will cover Development and Public Affairs Journalism as well as Investigative Journalism and Business Reporting. ALJA members will also tour major media houses in Minnesota including the Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune, among others.
ALJA is a registered 501c (3) non-profit organization and it seeks to foster companionship amongst its members; and promote the advancement and protection of press freedom and free speech in Liberia. Additionally, the Association is committed to championing the principle of good governance in the country. ALJA was founded in 1998 in Washington, D.C., USA.
The Association is governed by a National Administration and Board of Directors. Journalist Moses D. Sandy heads the National Administration as President while Mr. Volcano Shelton chairs the National Board of Directors. ALJA has two fully functioning chapters in the Midwest and East coast regions of America.