Liberia: NaFAA Boss to Give Keynote at Press Union’s 58th Anniversary

The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Metieh-Glassco, has been invited by the Press Union of Liberia to deliver the keynote address on the auspicious occasion of its 58th-anniversary celebration. 

The PUL’s preferment of Metieh-Glassco, whose work at NaFAA has revitalized Liberia's once-dead fishing sector, has faced no opposition from journalists across the country. 

In Sanniquellie, Nimba County, where the PUL’s 58th-anniversary celebration will be held, she is expected to make the case for digitization, arguing that full transition would herald Liberia’s mainstream media into a prosperous era, reducing their struggle to stay afloat amid dwindling physical ad revenue. 

Metieh-Glassco's expected speech comes as Liberian media are yet to experiment with alternative business models that would help it diversify revenue streams, which for now is not the case. 

Media revenue in Liberia comes primarily from physical advertisements, with the government providing the largest share, and is barely sufficient to cover operational expenses including salaries, fuel, newsprint, and other production supplies.  And the case is even worse because many government advertisers do not pay their bills on time, a trend that some non-governmental advertisers have copied. 

In Liberia, data shows that Liberia has more than 1.1 million internet users, which is a 22% internet penetration rate. These consumers are actively connected to the various digital spaces. 

Metieh-Glassco is expected to highlight the internet as a rich platform for business opportunities, marketing, and branding, urging the press to a new awakening. 

“Today [social media] has widened the scope and is attracting more people. It is providing the space and is all about efficient service delivery, and effective marketing strategy. The future is now! Take it and run with it! Therefore, we reiterate our call for everyone to take advantage of this opportunity provided digitally,” an excerpt from her draft remarks says. 

Meanwhile, Metieh-Glassco is also expected to congratulate the Press Union of Liberia for demonstrating strong commitment as a reliable partner in the advocacy and protection for the right of freedom of speech during its 58 years of existence.

Her speech would add that the Government of Liberia has provided the space and support to ensure that this inalienable right is protected, especially through the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Law, the Freedom of Information Law and the Table Mountain Declaration, as major achievements for free speech. 

She is also expected to echo the boast made by President Weah to the UN General Assembly that Liberia has “no journalist in prison” and that free speech is no longer a crime — which the government has also branded as “a great achievement”.  

Glassco is no stranger to the media. In September 2009, she served as Intern Writer at the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Radio, where she was responsible for the creation of narrative scripts for recorded programs to help grass rooters resolve conflicts, assisted in the production of the famous Creek Town (community drama) and Women's World (live magazine) radio programs, and the preparation of accurate reports on recorded programs for onward submission to the UN Headquarters, New York through her supervisor. 

That same year, she also served as a photography model for the Liberia Travel and Life Magazine (LTL), which was Liberia’s premium magazine while it lasted, as well as Brussels Inflight Magazine. She became a writer and marketing assistant at LTL, where she wrote situational reports on the day-to-day activities of LTL magazine, conducted internet research on neighboring countries pertaining to their historical background and the secret behind their success for the magazine, and wrote informative articles on cultural health and fitness. As a marketing assistant, she engaged potential organizations to advertise in the magazine and created marketing strategies to sell out copies of LTL magazine.

One of the keys to Glassco’s success at the helm of NaFAA is her resourcefulness in attracting development support and investment for the fisheries sector. This feat has not been without its fair share of challenges and she is expected to share her testimonial about leveraging knowledge, networks and negotiation skills to breathe new life into sectors that are threatened with extinction. 

In a similar vein, she is expected to also appeal to the mainstream media to play a critical role in the positive branding of the country, as content could attract or discourage investors or visitors. It has been said by agents of the government and private sectors over the years that the news is often too negative and that the publication of positive content could spur patriotism, rebranding of the country, and attract investment and tourism. 

The NaFAA boss's speech will add that content published digitally must sell an attractive brand of the country to redirect people to Liberia and change the views about our country on the international stage.