USAID/Liberia Mission Director, Jim Wright, has congratulated Rachelle Kanneh for winning Liberia’s Young Journalist Award 2024.
During a courtesy visit at the mission’s office near Monrovia on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Mr. Wright commended the award winner for her incredible achievements.
He also encouraged her to continue highlighting the issues affecting women and girls through her stories and radio programs.
The USAID Liberia Mission Director, who was thrilled by the young reporter’s award-winning story, reiterated the mission’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s media development at all levels.
Also speaking, Internews Chief of Party, Lien Bach, thanked USAID Liberia and the United States government for their continuous support towards media development in Liberia.
Madam Bach said the Liberia Media Activity project is aimed at enhancing media development across the different stages ranging from grassroots to top levels.
She emphasized that despite the challenges, Internews Liberia has made significant strides in improving media content and strengthening capacity development.
The Executive Director of Youth Media Action (YMA) Varmah Kamara lauded USAID Liberia and Internews Liberia for their support over the years.
Mr. Kamara added that the Young Journalist Award is an opportunity for young Liberia journalists to showcase their media talents, something he believes has been lacking in the past.
He believes that the program has seen significant improvement in young reporters’ media content, especially for entry-level reporters in rural communities.
The award winner, Rachelle Kanneh thanked USAID Liberia for the support through Internews in Liberia and Youth Media Action while she promised to serve as an ambassador in promoting girls’ and women’s rights in Gbarpolu County.
Kanneh was crowned on Thursday, November 6, 2024, as the winner of the 2nd Young Journalist Award, making her the first winner from rural Liberia.
Out of 30 applicants from nine counties namely, Montserrado, Bong, Margibi, Nimba, and Gbarpolu amongst others, the award recognizes three outstanding young journalists and two high school press club students.
The colorful event which was held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at the Paynesville City Hall witnessed Jerromie S. Walters of Women Voices Newspaper as the first runner-up while Roseline Tengbeh of Voice of Gompa in Nimba County as 2nd runner-up to walk away with one modern sony recorder each and Rachelle Kanneh of Voice of Gbarpolu won as Journalist of the Year to bag home a plaque and a new hp laptop.
Student Patricia Tokpa of Strive Press Club won as the high school newscaster of the year and Promise D. Garley of Kings and Queens International High School won as High School journalist of the year with each walking away with a smartphone to enhance their campus reporting.
21-year-old Rachelle R. Kanneh has over the years developed an interest and honed her skills in human interest, gender, and environmental reporting.
She started her journalism career at Samuel Ballah Elementary School in Sappimah Town, Gbarpolu County, and later moved to Monrovia where she graduated from the Annie Banks William High School in Brewerville.
Meanwhile, the award-winning story highlights gold mining activities which affects the water sources of Morlakwelleh Town, a community of over 3,000 residents now face serious health risks due to unclean water.
The story and testimonies reflect a wider fight for safe and clean drinking water and community well-being in concession areas.
Collaborating with the Inside Gbarpolu team enriched this story, allowing the reporter to gather firsthand accounts and expert insights.
This groundbreaking story also emphasizes the power of community resilience and the need for accountability in the face of companies’ negligence.
