ALJA Enlightens Female Journalists

The Association of Liberia Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has conducted an intensive media training workshop for members of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) on newsgathering, interviewing techniques, tv presentation, among others.

Fifty (50) participants from Montserrado, Nimba, Bassa, Lofa, Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Gbarpolu, and Bomi Counties, among others, formed part of the workshop which was held recently at iCampus on Carey Street in Central Monrovia.  

The day-long event was heavily facilitated by prominent and international media professionals from Liberia and the USA, including Ms. Emma Sapong, Multimedia Journalist; Mr. Ishmael Turay, Editor, Springfield News-Sun, Ohio; Mr. Hassan Kiawu, former BBC Correspondent and Mr. Charity Nebbe, Host, Talk of Iowa and Voice Coach, respectively.

The ALJA’s workshop for FeJAL members sought to address some of the major challenges that female journalists encountered daily while on their reportorial duty within the country.

Mr. Hassan Kiawu, one of the facilitators, practically demonstrated his skills to the participants.

Before the start of the workshop, ALJA’s National President, Mr. Joe S. Mason, said the hybrid virtual capacity building training was aimed at equipping female journalists with the relevant skills to ensure effective service delivery in Liberia.

Mr. Mason, who spoke virtually to the participants, said at the level of ALJA they will continue to do what they can to help female journalists with capacity-building training. 

He urged the participants to take advantage of the training to learn from the resource persons who are well-versed in diverse news gathering and dissemination.  He said, “This initiative is part of the ALJA agenda to help improve the professional skills of our female journalists in the country.”

According to him, female capacity building is very essential and as such, ALJA will do everything possible to help FeJAL mitigate some of the barriers they are faced with.

Said Mr. Mason, “We understand that the efforts have to be sustained, it cannot be a one-time thing but at our level, we will continue to do what we can and look forward to seeing more of these engagements between us in the future.” He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of ALJA as well as the facilitators who took up their time to help provide knowledge and improve the media landscape of Liberia.

Participants at the just ended ALJA capacity building training workshop were introduced to news gathering and written, among others. The workshop also trained the feJAL members on the effective ways of radio presentations, maintaining voice, digital storytelling, and contention creation.

FEJAL President Madam Siatta Scott-Johnson, who spoke at the end of the workshop lauded ALJA National President Mr. Joe Mason and his entire leadership for organizing such a brilliant engagement for female journalists in Liberia. She expressed the hope on behalf of the participants that the knowledge acquired will be used for its intended purpose. 

In another development, Mr. Charles Crawford also presented 13 digital voice recorders to FeJAL on behalf of ALJA to be used mainly by the rural female journalist’s broadcasters. He said the purpose of the donation was to empower the participants physically after acquiring the knowledge from the training. 

Madam Johnson, “I must admit it was least expected from ALJA. I just jokingly said can you put your basket down, let people drop their old recorders in it, and to my utmost surprise, today we have brand new recorders.

“As we engage, more will come. There is a possibility that for every female journalist whether Monrovia or rural there is possibility that you will get a recorder from ALJA so thank you so much to ALJA and we rarely appreciate it.”