Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – An acclaimed International media executive says unless local Liberian journalists are paid livable wages by media institutions in the country they cannot be independent in the execution of their reportorial duties.
Professor Prue Clarke, Director of International Reporting at the New York based City University said every story they do would be a puff piece, be it about the politician who pays them, or the aid agency that pays them.
“Make no mistake; if the aid agency doesn’t pay them for that story, the journalists know that they should write a puff piece to increase their chances of being chosen for the next workshop or trip-that’s where the big money is. No one is paying them to do independent and impartial journalism,” she pontificated.
Speaking recently in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when she served as keynote Speaker at a banquet of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA), Director Clarke said because of low wages, the Liberian media is witnessing a brain drain, where trained, honest, credible, and qualified journalists were leaving the profession in search of better opportunities.
She noted “Because of the poor pay we are not always getting the best and smartest. If anyone has a chance to earn a good wage in government or aid agency they will go there. In many cases we are getting hustlers, who see journalism as a way to get money before stepping into an aid or government job.”
The ALJA benefit banquet was one of several activities that formed part of the Association’s 2016 convention. The convention brought together scores of Liberian media gurus from the Americas and Liberia. It was held in Philadelphia from Friday, October 21st through Sunday, October 23rd on the theme, “The Role of the Media in Sustaining Liberia’s Democracy Post 2017 General Elections.”
ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. The organization seeks to foster companionship amongst its members. It is also, dedicated to the advancement of Press freedom through media development and the principle of good governance in Liberia. ALJA was founded in 1998 in Washington, DC by a group of US based Liberian journalists.
Journalist Clarke, who is also, Executive Director of the Monrovia based media project, the New Narratives, said the issue of how journalists are paid remained a fundamental challenge to good journalism in Most African countries including Liberia.
“And it is greatly frustrating to me that so many donors and aid agencies are ignoring it and in doing so, they are helping to perpetuate it,” she pointed out. Prue said “we can train journalists till we’re blue in the face, and trust me there are many overly trained journalists in Liberia-many, many of them are little more than professional workshop attendees-but as long as they are not paid to do independent reporting we are wasting our time.”
Prof. Clarke’s New Narratives has been working with Liberian journalists for more than a decade administering several projects that include story grants that pay journalists handsomely to report balanced and factual stories.
Gratuities / “Katos”
She frowned on the practice of news sources giving money or gratuities to journalists for professional services rendered. She said such practice, which is pervasive in most African countries including Liberia and Ghana, undermines the credibility and independence of the African media. Prue teaches journalism at the City University of New York.
She has since 2004 reported extensively from many countries in Africa including Liberia. Her radio piece on Liberia won the national Edward R. Murrow award for feature reporting.
The Austrian born media czar maintained the acceptance of money simply referred to as “kato” in the Liberian media from newsmakers by journalists equates to what she calls “career suicide”. She observed “Your impartiality and integrity-the most important things you have in journalism- are immediately out the window.”
An average reporter in Liberia reportedly earns 3 thousand Liberian dollars or approximately US $30.00 as monthly salary. According to the President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Abdullai Kamara, Liberia has 101 radio stations. There are also, more than 40 newspapers and several television stations including the state owned Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) in the country.
To address the problem of low pay and poverty in the Liberian press, Professor Clarke proposed the diversification of the income strings of the Liberian media through what she called the “business model”.
She said the commercialization of media products through creative means such as sales and advertisements would help generate funds for the upkeep of journalists and media institutions. She said international organizations can also, help the Liberian media in fighting destitution through capacity building initiatives.
2017 Transition
Touching on the role of the media in sustaining Liberia’s democracy after the 2017 general and presidential elections, Prof. Clarke said ALJA has a lot to give from the Americas in helping to shape the Liberian media landscape because the Association understands the importance of an honest and independent press in Liberia’s democracy.
“Not everyone understands this. And you have great power in forcing leaders in Liberia to do the right thing by reporters there,” she emphasized.
She said the year 2017 would be a critical period for Liberia in the country’s quest for peaceful co-existence. It is 74 years since there has last been a peaceful transfer of power. Liberians will go to the poll in 2017 for general and presidential elections. She praised President Sirleaf for going the great lengths to bring in donors and investors and making Liberia look as if it has a free press.
She wondered whether the country’s current presidential candidates including Vice President Joseph Boakai, Benoni Urey of the All Liberian Party (ALP), and George Weah of the Congress for Democracy Change (CDC), and Counselor Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party (LP) are up to the task of making Liberia safe and secured.
“Do they have the moral fortitude to resist the urge to plunder and to pursue the path that will be right for the country long term? I really hope so because as we all know, if they don’t the consequences could be terrible. And clearly the press plays a critical role in monitoring that,” she observed.
Also, delivering a special statement at the occasion, the ALJA National President, Moses D. Sandy, said the Association remains committed to working with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and Liberia’s political leaders in ensuring the smooth transfer of political power in the country come 2017. He noted ALJA would be an active participant in the 2017 general and presidential elections through the mobilization of logistical support for media monitoring and education.
Commenting on journalists’ welfare and the issue of poverty in the media, President Sandy conceded with Professor Clarke that there is imperativeness for pay raises and improvement in the welfare of local Liberian journalists if, they are to be taken seriously in the execution of their duties.
“Anything other than that would make the press vulnerable to the highest bidders. To fight poverty in the media, ALJA would like to see the diversification of the income base of media institutions and the merger of those that have similar editorial policies,” he noted. He said the proposed merger would help minimize the wild spread destitution and create avenues for financial viability and the recruitment of qualified and competent journalists.
For his part, the PUL President, Abdullai A. Kamara said the ALJA convention theme is not meaningful only for the media but all other Liberians because the year 2017 would be a salient period in Liberia’s political history.
He said the political transition that comes in 2017 and 2018 would show to the world that Liberia has effectively transcended the period of conflict and it is now moving forward in peace and development. Mr. Kamara said the PUL remains committed to the transitional process. We are committed to working with every group including ALJA in the attainment of a calm and safe transition in Liberia following the general and presidential elections.
Bridging Communication Gap
The National President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas(ULAA), Wilmot Kunney, in remarks thanked the ALJA leadership for the strives it continues to make in the unification of the US based Liberian press corps. Mr. Kunney urged the Association to help in bridging the communication gap between Liberians in the diaspora and their people in Liberia through the coverage of happenings in the Liberian communities.
“We want ALJA to help tell our stories. There are too many things happening in our communities abroad but no one is reporting on them.” On the 2017 presidential and general elections in Liberia, Mr. Kunney said ULAA is vested in the electoral process and would be an active participant in the elections.
Repressive Laws
Liberia’s Minister Counselor for Press and Public Affairs at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC, Gabriel I. H. Williams represented Ambassador Jeremiah Sulonteh at the event. Minister Williams in remarks lauded the ALJA leadership for the good work it continues to render the Association’s membership and the Liberian media community.
He urged the ALJA leadership to form alliance with the PUL in fighting against repressive laws in Liberia that tend to strangulate the Liberian press in the coverage and dissemination of public information in the country.
Regarding low wages and poverty in the press, Minister Williams, who also, a founding member of ALJA said media empowerment in Liberia goes beyond mere rhetoric. “The PUL, ALJA, heads of media houses, and the international community must take concrete actions in addressing the problems.”