A media innovation has empowered more than 40 community actors with Project Writing Skills in Monrovia.
The Advance Media Consultancy, an enterprise owned by Mr. Christopher Sellee, Former Deputy Press Secretary to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf & Former Deputy Director General for Rural Broadcasting at the Liberia Broadcasting System, organized the summit with the leadership of Broadcast Journalist Magdalene Saah.
The summit was hosted from May 4-6 at the premises of the Renaissance Communication Incorporated (Truth FM) in Paynesville, outside Monrovia.
Speaking during the summit, journalist Magdalene Saah disclosed that the event was an outcome of a media and leadership innovation training she benefited from, under the auspices of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) and Internews Liberia.
“I am now convinced that the media can organize events that benefit people and bring income to the industry in a decent and appreciable way”, Magdalene conveyed.
Topics compiled into a training manual and offered at the summit included Community Needs Assessment, Project Titling and Background Statement Writing, Project Strategy including Goal Setting, Work Plan, Budgeting, and Project Summary Writing.
Media and Development Mentor, George Sarwah Stewart served the summit as Lead Facilitator.
Stewart transitioned from Broadcast Journalism to Nonprofit Management 13 years ago. He holds a Master’s Degree in Education which serves as an advantage of blending his media and nonprofit project management backgrounds for knowledge sharing.
Some of those who have benefited from his teaching rated him as “impressive and effective.”
Another Broadcast Journalist, Weemon Jallahcole of the University of Liberia Radio (LUX 106.5) shared her experience both from the project writing summit and the media leadership and innovation training, having attended both.
Weemon said she’s identified several innovative ideas to help sustain the University Radio.
She also praised the contents of the project training as skills needed not just for nonprofit organizations, but the media community that is threatened by ethical fundraising to boost sustainability.
She is therefore encouraging media managers and actors to think outside of the box and get attracted to innovation beyond the routine revenue streams currently dwindling.
A course of people including Doctor Tarnue Woheel of the 14 Military Hospital, former Gbarpolu County Representative Dixson Yasah, Daily Talk Publisher Alfred Sirleaf, and the University of Liberia Lecturer Arthur Crusoe also attended the summit.
According to the participants, the training styled “Project Writing Summit” emerged as “a resounding success”.