Liberia

Media Sector Support

Supporting Regional Rural Networks

By strengthening radio networks and providing training to enhance production capabilities, SFCG seeks to expand the amount of public information available on important governance process and engage radio personnel and civil society in these areas on these processes. SFCG supports its radio partners and the Liberian media sector more generally through research, technical support and practical experiences.

Through comprehensive trainings, SFCG strengthens the productions skills of rural radio station staff in journalism, with particular focus on interview techniques, packaging and scripting. Importantly, these trainings focus on empowering radio station personnel to develop and promote communication that links the government and the governed as a way of managing expectations encouraging citizens to become more aware of their roles and responsibilities within the governance and democratic process. Station staff are encouraged to identify local, emerging civil society groups in the forms of community associations and other livelihood-based groups like the Bike Riders Association for engagement and participation in programming.

Beyond simply building community radio station staff capacity, these skills trainings are also aimed at creating platforms for government to receive feedback on how people are participating in and accessing its development and democracy programs. This feedback will help both to build confidence and trust in government and to call government's attention to areas that need improvement.

To provide practical experiences for the radio station staff, SFCG works with them to produce segments for the radio program TDS Up Country. These segments provide the journalists and producers with experience in covering a range of issues, from NGO projects to health/sanitation to women's rights to education. SFCG and community radio stations also co-host live radio discussion programs, engaging county authorities, legislators, and civil society representatives in a dialogue on key issues, such as accountability, expectations, democracy and governance.

Supporting the Establishment of New Community Radio Stations

SFCG has worked in selected counties that lack radio coverage to lay the groundwork for and support new community radio stations, including most recently in the remote Grand Cape Mount province. SFCG has developed a model for community radio development that fosters local ownership and sustainability.

Through sustained engagement and support by SFCG and partners, the community identifies and provides its own contribution to the project, including the land for the building, blocks and labor for its construction and the necessary fees to secure a community radio-broadcasting license. The community also identifies appropriate leaders to serve on the Board of Directors, who receive training in management and decision-making from SFCG and have the opportunity to visit other, similar stations to see what works and what can be applied in their community.

After the community has met its contribution requirements, SFCG then provides and installs the technical equipment for broadcast. SFCG also provides intensive training to identified station personnel—usually youth who will serve as volunteers—that includes principles of journalism, program design, interviewing techniques, and Common Ground methodology, which facilitates constructive dialogue among diverse parties in an approach that fosters a search for solutions.