<
 
 
 
 
×
>
You are viewing an archived web page, collected at the request of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) using Archive-It. This page was captured on 05:43:58 Aug 06, 2016, and is part of the UNESCO collection. The information on this web page may be out of date. See All versions of this archived page.
Loading media information hide

Assessment of the safety of Liberian journalists from the prism of UNESCO's Safety of Journalists Indicators

Year when project approved: 
2014
Approved budget: 
US$15 000.00

This project will use the UNESCO safety indicators to research the safety issues impacting media practice in Liberia, which faces growing local and international concern. There will be a series of Monrovia-based expert interviews and focus group discussions targeting specific professionals with links to these safety issues, organized into four regional clusters.
 
This project is important given the current situation in Liberia. The last ten years have been characterized by peace and democratic renewal, with a growing number of media houses and improvement in media content as well as the approval of laws and policies that somewhat respect freedom of expression. However, democratic progress has stagnated and there is fear that the situation will regress in the 2014 senatorial elections. Freedom House’ 2013 index placed Liberia in the “partly free” bracket for freedom of expression, while the Freedom of the Press Worldwide 2013 index by Reporters Sans Frontiers categorised that country as having “noticeable problems” that hamper freedom of expression and media rights. Bills meant to further develop freedom of expression in the media are failing to be legislated and journalists who are critical of the government face ongoing threats and violence while carrying out their work. In addition, “highest bidder syndrome” results in media manipulation. Given this dire reality, the production of a report on the safety of journalists in Liberia will be important in promoting peace and democratic development.

Documents
Full project description: 
Liberia_project_proposal.pdf
Full implementation report: 
Liberia_implementation_report.pdf
Project details
IPDC Bureau meeting nº: 
58

Implementation status :

Project evaluated:

Project scope:

IPDC Priority:

Budget

Source of funds:

Beneficiary
Beneficiary name: 
Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP)
Beneficiary description: 

CEMESP has built a clout over the years as cited in the following areas which expertise can be brought to bear on the project herein conceived. UNESCO funded Research Report Publication “FOI Compliance Monitoring in Post Electoral Environment: Lessons for Mano River Countries”; ongoing marketing of the West Africa Regional Fishing Project using Community Radios in sea board counties; Tax Awareness and Sensitization Campaign in Sinoe, Rivercess, Grand Bassa and Monsterado Counties for the Ministry of Finance (Liberia) 2010; Evaluation of Public Awareness Campaign of UNDP Arms for Development Program in Lofa, Bong, Nimba & Grand Gedeh counties 2007; Nationwide Evaluation of the Impact of Local Rebroadcast of Charles Taylor Trial for West AFRICA Democracy Radio 2009; Evaluation of the Good Governance through Strengthened Media for Journalists for Human Rights/Liberia Media Center 2010; Developed Training Manual and trained Community Radio Journalists, Civil Society and Local Authorities in Good Governance and Political Accountability (an IREX-USAID sponsored project in Nimba, Bong, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Lofa, Rural Monsterrado counties);CEMESP had over the years conducted training for over 500 Liberian journalists in various modules including Peace and Conflict Sensitive Reporting, Development Communication, Electoral Reporting, Communications Skills, Human Rights Reporting, ICT etc;CEMESP had served as a stakeholder in the World Summit on Information Society to the extent of participating in the Information Communication Technology Policy Development Dialogue both in Liberia and across West Africa; CEMESP has won international award in the policy advocacy for the enactment and popularization of the Liberia Freedom of Information Act 2010; hosted media law reform roundtable in 2012 leading to publication of outcome, facilitated the Open Governance Partnership meetings leading to the drafting of the national action plan, served as the country focal point for the ratification, popularization and domestication of the AU Good Governance Charter and supplementary ECOWAS protocols.

Beneficiary country:

Beneficiary type:

Location and contacts
UNESCO
Responsible UNESCO Regional advisers: 

Ronald D. Kayanja

UNESCO Field Office:

Project contacts: 

Albert Baron Ansu, Programme Officer at CEMESP

Project place: 
Liberia

Project region:

Follow-up and achievments
Summary of the project implementation: 

UNESCO contracted CEMESP to undertake the assessment, which relied on a mini survey, desk reviews and content analysis. Counselor Onesimus D. Bawon, former Executive Director of the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, was recited to collate and analyze data and to edit the report in collaboration with CEMESP Program staff. In addition, consultants were recruited to conduct content analyses of five newspapers and to develop the research instruments.
 
Furthermore, 15 research assistants were recruited and trained. Questionnaires were developed and pre-tested by a wide range of stakeholders, including: the security sector, policy makers, media houses, the Press Union of Liberia, UN Agencies, Bar Association, University Mass Communications Lecturers, Female Journalist Association, Human Rights Commission, Officials of the Governance Commission and Constitutional Review Committee. A panel of experts was created to review the draft report, comprising: the Press Union of Liberia, security personnel, staff from human rights NGOs and eminent citizens. There are also three sets of focus group discussions with selected individuals in the security sector, UN Agency, Media Regulatory body of the Press Union, Liberia Telecommunications Agency, Publishers Associations, Association of Liberia Community Radios, among others. The project activities resulted in the production of a report on the safety of journalists in Liberia.