The leadership of the Reporters Association of Liberia (RAL) says it’s major concern now is how to seek the welfare of reporters across Liberia for the period of three years they have to serve in leadership.
Appearing on ECOWAS Radio ” Front Page” program, the Secretary General of RAL, Mark Mengonfia said the RAL’s leadership major concern focuses on how to source funding from media partners and get training.
According to him, in any profession, refresher workshops are all necessary ingredients in keeping on pad with said profession.
He indicated that” It is clear and not a secret that there are some reporters who saw their close friends practicing the journalism profession and decided to become journalist with going through a full training”.
The RAL SG said that their leadership is planning to do among other things general meeting with membership, visit reporters in the counties and set up counties coordinators.
When he was asked how they ( RAL) intends to upkeep the institution, SG Mengonfia said” we will write project proposals to partners, work with the Press Union of Liberia and other institutions who believe in reporters’ welfare for supports.”
According to him, they at the level of RAL leadership after taking over saw the need to create a database of reporters of Liberia.
” We have started the process of the database, we are also in the process of creating a mailing system that will allow our colleagues share stories and other information with each other and the other one is to set up an active website for reporters works to be published on” Mengonfia added.
Threat against member
Speaking to the alleged threats against freelance journalist Kolubah B. Akoi, RAL SG said they are working with the PUL to have it addressed.
” Madam Clarke instructed me to communicate with him last night which I did. What we can say now is that since reporter Akoi is in Monrovia, let him stay around until we lay the allegation is put to rest”, he adds.
Trust and accountability
Also speaking during the radio appearance was RAL financial secretary general, Hannah Geterminah who promised to safely keep and protect funding of the institution.
“We will make sure that we first get our article of incorporation from the government of Liberia after which we will open a bank account for the institution” Madam Geterminah said.
Speaking further Hannah stated that “two persons could easily convince each other and use the money, but when it is placed in an account” it needs an approval from the leadership in particular and the membership in general.”
As part of ways to raise funding Madam Geterminah disclosed that during their induction ceremony which was held on February 7, 2020, RAL launched a fundraising rally which was anticipated to raise the amount of 12 thousand United States dollars in other to enable them get started with their activities interest of reporters of Liberia.
RAL is a conglomeration of reporters (journalists) from various media institutions in Liberia.
It is an auxiliary of the press Union of Liberia (PUL) which was established several years ago to seek the welfare reporters working for various media outlets in the country.
Comments are closed.