By Precious D. Freeman
Several other speakers at the World Radio Day celebrated in Liberia spoke keenly about accuracy and professionalism in journalists’ discharge of duty especially using radio.
The celebration was organized by the Association of Liberia Community Radio (ALICOR) will support from Internews through funding from USAID Media Activity and SIDA radio content syndication project.
Nimba County District 2 Representative, Nyahn Flomo, serving as keynote speaker at the World Radio Day advised community radio practitioners that the information they provide is considered accurate if and when it is free of errors.
Flomo, who himself is a journalist turned politician, told radio journalists that on many occasions, community radio practitioners broadcast information that contain errors, and that if accuracy is a hallmark for good quality information, they must be careful about what they put out.
At the celebration of the World Radio Day, held under the theme: “Radio; A Century Informing, Entertaining, and Educating” in Tubmanburg, Bomi County, Rep. Flomo said, “In most parts of Liberia, whenever the word “radio” is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is information, but wondered “What types of information are we providing as community radio; how is it impacting our local population, and how have we changed our community because of the information we provide, how good is the quality and how available is it to the receiver?”
He encouraged radio producers to consider time dimension as a conduit to providing quality information for public consumption, noting, “The time dimension a good quality radio producer should consider is timelessness, that means the information should be provided when needed, and should also consider how current the information is, how up to date it is, and consider the frequency of the information; the information should be provided as often as needed.”
“Some of us listen to the international radio stations like BBC, and when you monitor the news, you realize that the 8 o’clock news will almost be the same as 9 o’clock news, and the same as 10 o’clock news, but one thing I observed with the community radio stations is that we already don’t have the resources but we don’t make use of the little ones we have, some of us got programs that when it’s repeated once, that’s all, so when we actually begin to make use of frequency, it will help us to see how we can provide the information in the timely manner so that lots of people can grab it,” Rep. Flomo stated.
He emphasized that content dimensions consider accuracy, relevancy, and completeness, which means that the information you provide as a community radio practitioner is accurate if and when it is free of errors.
Rep. Flomo, who himself is the founder of Radio Kerkemah in Ganta, Nimba County, intoned that the information they give out is also relevant when it is related to the information needs of a specific recipient or for a specific situation, “the information should contain all contents of information; when you provide half information, then you have not delivered the message yet.”
He advised that when a piece of information is provided in a form that everyone understands, then that information is clear, “so if you sit on the radio and you want to impress all your audience by using all the big words, that will not help the message to be clear.”
“We all should understand that radio continues to play a central role in information dissemination, because it’s the only medium that reaches out to a large number of Liberians, especially the illiterate in the urban and rural areas,” he said.
USAID boss, Jim Wright told reporters that journalism is about freedom but that freedom plus professionalism is equal to accuracy.
He said journalists in Liberia are fortunate to enjoy media freedom unlike in other places in the world. You are free to criticize the government and no one will come after you or there will be no repercussions.
However, he said journalists should use that freedom responsibly by providing the public with accurate information because the media is a powerful tool.
“Your commitment in advancing democracy in Liberia is impressive. Community Radio played a central role in promoting a free fair and peaceful election in 2023. Informing the public and ensuring transparency,” Mr. Wright expressed.
He specifically hailed the elections debate which according to him gave the citizens the opportunity to hear their leaders during the just ended elections as well as information during the COVID 19 pandemic giving other lifesaving messages in local languages.
He concluded by admonishing journalists especially those on the radio to ensure that the radio is used professionally and that do all to foster responsible journalism.
The Head of ECOWAS, Josephine Nkrumah, said, “You need to understand that in your quest to inform the public, information becomes one of the channels of driving peace or raising conflicts; so, for you, being objective and understanding that you are accountable to your audience, remain important.
“Your professionalism is key so I will urge you as journalists to continue to seek to educate yourself, continually seek to benefit from the capacity building that is unveiled by different people, seek to learn from one another, and learn radio’s best practices well,” she stated.
Madam Nkrumah said, “When we talk about national development, peace, and democracy, you are one of the most credible constituents we must look to. And it’s also not surprising that you have so many partners that look up to you because they understand and appreciate the role that you play.”
She then thanked SIDA for its supports towards ECOWAS radio in driving their agenda on the regional level, but more importantly, in connecting the region to the community through the network we have with the community radio stations.
Remember always that the power you have should be used responsibly and objectively, and the power you have must be a power for projects,” she intoned.
The Swedish Development Cooperation Deputy Head of Mission, Johan Romare who is a journalist as well emphasized, “Remembering the BBC training we went to, for they mentioned that A plus B equals to C, which means Accuracy plus Balance equals to Credibility, so if you want to be credible and to have the choice of your own, you have to be professional.”
Pomare advised that there should not be political interference, commercial interference, ethnic interference, or religious interference, adding, “It’s necessary to be truthful and independent so that you can serve the whole community, and in that part, the financial independence, the financial stability on the radio, and how the radio stations in Liberia are crucial.
“We are happy for this celebration and we are in support of Internews and our strength is to help community radios in Liberia to increase their financial independence without accepting envelopes from politicians, local business men, or from donors that want you to cover their events,” Romare stated.
“So, you can say you are free and professional and when you celebrate the World Radio Day next year. It’s almost ten years now that we are installing that support to increase professionalism among journalists, radio producers, and media managers in Liberia,” the Deputy Head of Mission said.
The World Radio Day has been observed since 1924 and February 13, 2024 marks its 100 years of celebration and it is the ALICOR’s 13th edition which witnessed five community journalists receive awards in different categories.
The celebration of the World Radio Day aims to encourage radio stations to provide access to information through their medium, and enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters.
