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Articles - Liberia

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Liberia

Journalist who wrote about genital mutilation forced into hiding

A woman journalist who reported on the practice of female genital mutilation in Liberia has gone into hiding after receiving death threats, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Liberia

Journalists caught in the middle of political rivalries at election time

In the wake of run-off elections in Liberia, seven broadcasters were closed down after three people died during fighting between riot police and opposition supporters, reports the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP). The radio and television stations, which are perceived to be pro-opposition, have been accused of "disseminating hate speech."

Africa / Awards / Liberia / Nigeria

IFEX members hounoured with pan-African award for freedom of information campaigns

IFEX congratulates Edetaen Ojo and Malcolm Joseph, the leaders of IFEX member groups in Nigeria and Liberia, for winning Africa's first awards for activism on access to information. The awards were handed out at the inaugural Pan African Conference on Access to Information, held in Cape Town, South Africa, this week, which was attended by numerous IFEX members involved in campaigning on the issue.

Liberia

Mayor threatens CEMESP with libel suit over free expression report

A mayor who was named and shamed in a free expression report by the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is threatening to sue the organisation for libel.

Liberia

President shows free expression commitment by signing FOI Act, opening women's radio station

Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf signed into law the long-awaited freedom of information act this week, the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is pleased to report. Coupled with her recent launch of an all-women owned radio station, it's just another example of her commitment to shifting the free expression landscape in Liberia.

Liberia

Freedom of information law comes to life

Offering a bold example for the possibilities for press freedom, the Liberian government passed a freedom of information law last week, report the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

Liberia

CEMESP fosters cooperation between Liberian journalists and security forces

In response to harassment and intimidation of Liberian journalists by security personnel, the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), with support from the IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy Programme, convened a symposium on 7 April in Monrovia, bringing together members of the media, academia, civil society, security agencies and government. Security forces were asked to protect journalists so they can do their work and to understand the importance of press freedom, and journalists were asked to respect the role of security personnel.

Liberia

Assaults on journalists and legal threats curb press freedom

Police brutality and legal action are the two greatest sources of attacks on journalists in Liberia, says the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) in its 2009 report. Journalists and media workers also face death threats, detention and censorship.

Liberia

L’IMPUNITÉ RÈGNE AU LIBÉRIA, DIT LE CEMESP

Liberia

IMPUNIDAD REINA EN LIBERIA, DICE EL CEMESP

Liberia

IMPUNITY REIGNS IN LIBERIA, SAYS CEMESP

Impunity for crimes against journalists reigned supreme in Liberia last year - in part because the authorities are behind most of the attacks, says a new report by the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP).

Liberia

PERIODISTAS HACEN CAMPAÑA PARA REFORMAR LAS LEYES DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

Liberia

DES JOURNALISTES FONT CAMPAGNE POUR FAIRE MODIFIER LES LOIS SUR LES MÉDIAS

Liberia

JOURNALISTS CAMPAIGN TO REFORM MEDIA LAWS

Nearly four years in the making, three draft bills to improve the media landscape in Liberia were presented to the National Assembly last week amid public fanfare, report the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP), the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).

Liberia

DOS TRABAJADORES DE LOS MEDIOS ATACADOS POR MES EN LIBERIA, ENCUENTRA INFORME DE CEMESP

Liberia

DEUX TRAVAILLEURS DES MÉDIAS SONT AGRESSÉS CHAQUE MOIS AU LIBÉRIA, CONCLUT UN RAPPORT DU CEMESP

Liberia

TWO MEDIA WORKERS ATTACKED PER MONTH IN LIBERIA, CEMESP REPORT FINDS

At least one journalist or media worker has been attacked every two weeks since April 2006 in Liberia, says a new report by IFEX member the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP). And while the government is behind most of the attacks, a surprising number came from civil society activists, says CEMESP.

Liberia

GRUPO LIBERIANO TRABAJA PARA ELEVAR NORMAS PERIODÍSTICAS

Liberia

UN GROUPE LIBÉRIEN S'EFFORCE DE REHAUSSER LES NORMES DU JOURNALISME

Liberia

LIBERIAN GROUP WORKS TO IMPROVE JOURNALISM STANDARDS

As Liberia emerges from a brutal long-running civil war, the Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is helping to re-build democracy in the country by coordinating media training courses aimed at improving professional standards and strengthening press freedom.

Liberia

COMISIÓN INVESTIGARÁ AGRESIONES CONTRA PERIODISTAS

Liberia

UN COMITÉ FERA ENQUÊTE SUR DES ATTAQUES COMMISES CONTRE DES JOURNALISTES

Liberia

COMMITTEE TO PROBE ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has appointed a committee to investigate a recent spate of attacks on journalists who have been probing the country's security services, reports the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP).

Liberia

INSTAN A GOBIERNO LIBERIANO A REFORMAR LEYES DE MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN

Liberia

LE GOUVERNEMENT LIBÉRIEN PRIÉ DE RÉFORMER LES LOIS SUR LES MÉDIAS

Liberia

LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT URGED TO REFORM MEDIA LAWS

An internationally-supported conference attended by dozens of journalists, lawyers and human rights advocates in Monrovia, Liberia, has called on authorities to bring all laws affecting the media and free expression into line with international standards within six months.

Liberia

LA CONFÉRENCE DU LIBÉRIA S'ATTAQUERA À LA RÉFORME DE LA LOI SUR LES MÉDIAS

Liberia

CONFERENCIA EN LIBERIA EMPRENDERÁ REFORMA DE LEY DE MEDIOS

Liberia

LIBERIA CONFERENCE TO TACKLE MEDIA LAW REFORM

IFEX members will play prominent roles at a conference in Monrovia, Liberia, this month aimed at producing a blueprint for bringing the war-torn country's media laws and policies in line with international free expression standards.

Liberia

LE MRA ET LA MFWA TIENNENT UN SÉMINAIRE SUR LA RADIODIFFUSION AU LIBÉRIA

Liberia

MRA Y MFWA PARTICIPAN EN SEMINARIO DE DIFUSIÓN EN LIBERIA

Liberia

MRA, MFWA ENGAGE IN LIBERIA BROADCASTING SEMINAR

In Liberia, where years of brutal civil conflict have left the country's media in a fragile state, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) are working with journalists' associations and media development groups in Liberia to rebuild the infrastructure.

Liberia

Au Libéria, une école de journalisme est pillée et crie à l'aide

Liberia

Vandalismo en escuela de periodismo liberiana; solicita auxilio

Liberia

ATTACKS ON JOURNALISTS MOUNTING

As civil conflicts continue to rage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia, IFEX members are reporting increased attacks on journalists in recent weeks. In Liberia's capital, Monrovia, journalists and human rights activists in Monrovia have suffered the worst reprisals in what appear to be targeted and systematic attacks on residents caught up in the conflict, report the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).

Liberia

MEDIA UNDER FIRE

With thousands of civilians fleeing the Liberian capital of Monrovia amid intense fighting between rebels and government troops, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) are calling attention to the persistent attacks and threats against journalists and independent media in the country.

Liberia

UN JOURNALISTE EST REMIS EN LIBERTÉ

Liberia

PERIODISTA LIBERADO DE CÁRCEL

Liberia

JOURNALIST RELEASED FROM DETENTION

Liberian journalist Hassan Bility has been released from custody without charge after more than five months of detention, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Liberia

UN JOURNALISTE EMPRISONNÉ POURRAIT ÊTRE LIBÉRÉ

Liberia

POSIBLE LIBERACIÓN DE PERIODISTA ENCARCELADO

Liberia

IMPRISONED JOURNALIST MAY BE RELEASED

Liberia's President, Charles Taylor, has given the first indication that journalist Hassan Bility, secretly detained since June on suspicion of collaborating with rebels, may soon be released, says Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Liberia

SE TEME QUE IMPORTANTE PERIODISTA ESTÉ MUERTO EN MEDIO DE OFENSIVA CONTRA MEDIOS

Liberia

SERAIT MORT DANS LA VAGUE DE RÉPRESSION QUI S?EST ABATTUE SUR LES MÉDIAS

Liberia

LEADING JOURNALIST FEARED DEAD AMID CRACKDOWN ON MEDIA

Freedom-of-expression organisations have raised concerns over the fate of Hassan Bility, a prominent Liberian newspaper editor. The journalist is missing and feared dead, say the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), while Human Rights Watch (HRW) is concerned that he may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment.

Liberia

LE GOUVERNEMENT INTERDIT UN DÉFILÉ

Liberia

GOBIERNO PROHÍBE DESFILE

Liberia

GOVERNMENT BANS PARADE

The Government of Liberia has come under sharp criticism for banning a World Press Freedom Day parade organised for 3 May by the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) says the parade was banned because it apparently violated the government's recent order forbidding public gatherings. This is not the first time PUL has been banned from staging a World Press Freedom Day parade.

Liberia

DES JOURNALISTES SONT ARRÊTÉS À LA SUITE DE LA PROCLAMATION DE L?ÉTAT D?URGENCE

Liberia

PERIODISTAS ARRESTADOS EN MEDIO DE ESTADO DE EMERGENCIA

Liberia

JOURNALISTS ARRESTED AMID STATE OF EMERGENCY

In the wake of a state of emergency declared 11 days ago by Liberian President Charles Taylor, authorities have arrested at least four journalists from the newspaper "Analyst" and ordered the publication shut down, report Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN). The journalists were arrested on 13 February in the capital, Monrovia, and are being held in the police station.

Liberia

SINDICATO DE PRENSA REVIVE REVISTA MENSUAL

Liberia

LE SYNDICAT DES JOURNALISTES DU LIBÉRIA (PUL) RESSUSCITE UN MAGAZINE MENSUEL

Liberia

PRESS UNION REVIVES MONTHLY MAGAZINE

"Media Line", the monthly publication of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), has returned to newsstands after a three-year absence. With the release of its November issue, the publication resumes its task of "keeping watch on the watchdogs" and "promoting the welfare of journalists in terms of better salaries and working conditions."

Liberia

QUATRE JOURNALISTES SONT RELÂCHÉS À LA SUITE DE PRESSIONS INTERNATIONALES

Liberia

CUATRO PERIODISTAS LIBERADOS DEBIDO A PRESIÓN INTERNACIONAL

Liberia

FOUR JOURNALISTS RELEASED AFTER INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE

Four Liberian journalists were released on 30 March after more than a month in prison, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the US-based press freedom organisation Freedom Forum (FF). The journalists' release follows protests on their behalf by the Press Union of Liberia and international media advocacy organisations, including CPJ, which accused the Liberian government in March of bringing "trumped-up charges of espionage" against the journalists.

Liberia

LOS MEDIOS SIGUEN VULNERABLES A LAS AMENAZAS

Liberia

LES MÉDIAS RESTENT VULNÉRABLES AUX MENACES

Liberia

MEDIA REMAINS VULNERABLE TO THREATS

In the attempt to exercise their right to inform and express themselves freely, the media in Liberia have found themselves on a roller coaster ride for the past decade, says an unnamed correspondent for "Zongo Giwa" (Vol. 1, No. 2, 2000), a publication of the Media Foundation for West Africa. Since Charles Taylor became president in 1997, the development of the media has been "stunted" while the state-owned media "attempts with much difficulty to dominate public opinion agenda-setting." Prior to Taylor's rule, media workers were embroiled in a seven-year civil war, forced to either flee the country or become party to the conflict. "For a country coming from the throes of war, a confrontation between the government and the media can hardly help the path to peace," writes the author. Independent journalists and the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) have made concerted efforts to improve the relationship between government and the media, such as sponsoring a workshop on "Media / Government Collaboration in Fostering and Sustaining Development". The intervention of human rights organisations, such as the Center for Democratic Empowerment and the Carter Centre, as well as PUL, at critical points during this time has proven to be invaluable for the media's safety.

Liberia

RETRAIT DES ACCUSATIONS D?ESPIONNAGE PORTÉES CONTRE DES JOURNALISTES

Liberia

PERIODISTAS LIBERADOS DE CARGOS DE ESPIONAJE

Liberia

JOURNALISTS FREED FROM ESPIONAGE CHARGES

On 25 August, Liberian authorities released four journalists for Britain's Channel Four who had been detained for a week on espionage charges, report the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). On 18 August, Sorious Samura of Sierra Leone, Gugulakhe Radebe of South Africa, and David Barrie and Timothy John Lambon of the United Kingdom were arrested and indicted on espionage charges under claims that they intended to produce a documentary that was "damaging and injurious" to the country. For three weeks, the journalists had been filming and conducting interviews for a TV documentary. According to CPJ, the crew had requested an interview with President Charles Taylor, "who is widely suspected of supplying rebel forces in neighboring Sierra Leone with weapons and logistical support in exchange for diamonds." The President stated in an interview that the four were released after they had "apologized" to the nation, reports MISA.