By Bill W. Cooper
The Youth Media Action (YMA) organization and partners have launched Liberia’s first ever ‘Youth Journalism Manual’ intended to build the learning capacity for practicing and aspiring journalists across the country.
With funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through Internews, the manual is also expected to be taught in public and private schools, as well as other vocational institutions that do offered journalism as the course of study.
Founded since 1026, the YMA and partners have worked to build the capacity of high school journalists by providing them with a firm practical grounding in journalism through training opportunities and media exposure intended to inspire media reform.
YMA has also been keen on mentoring young female journalists who are currently under represent in the country’s media landscape through training, empowerment and internship at various media institutions in Montserrado and its surrounding.
Madam Olive Thomas, delivering the keynote address on behalf ECOWAS Radio Coordinator, Eva M. Flomo said journalism plays a pivotal role in informing the public on issue that are diverse, equally and significant to the survival of mankind and as such, it hinge on specific standards that practitioners must adhere to.
She explained that journalism have rules which include stories accuracy, timely, balanced, fair, impartial and authentic; and must answer questions of who, what, when, where, why and How, note that youth journalism provide an opportunity for young people to be creative, and learn new technical skills among others.
Madam Thomas, assert, “A Manual contains information that you need to either transform something into a workable tool or serve as a guide into how you do something, which is referred to as the training. So, in order to successfully apply a new idea or strategy, you will need a guide to help you get started.”
“The skill you learn as a result of training helps you to better disseminate information for others to understand. Journalism is also an art that you can use to express yourselves; ask the right questions; speak clearly; probe deeper into issue that require clarity,” she noted.
According to her, the advantage you get into becoming professional in journalism, is much more beneficial when you start early as a youth, revealing that some of the best journalists today started from press clubs in high schools and through the years, be able to allow themselves to grow in the profession.
She maintained, “As the media landscape evolve with new media or digital media becoming prevalent in our communities and larger societies, young people are better placed to improve themselves and to seek information that will help them to be informed about issue that are relevant and are for the public good.”
“So, as Youth Media Action launch the “Liberia Youth Journalism Training Manual” today, we are hopeful that young journalists or journalism students will focus their primary attention on learning the basics’ in the trade, which will help to equip you for the world and the job market,” Madam Thomas intoned.
She added, “And with social media at your disposal to make journalism thrive and enhance your creativity, you are head for professionalism devoid of harassment, black mail, intimidation and mediocrity. Take this manual as your guide and you will have no regrets for the future.”
Earlier, YMA Executive Director, Varmah Kamara giving the overview of the ‘Youth Journalism Manual’ emphasize that one of the fundamental challenge media development faces is low professional journalistic standards due to poor media education foundation or lack of early journalism and practice.
This, Mr. Kamara stressed that high school journalism have got an significant role to play in addressing said challenges, state, “In fact, most Liberian journalists come from high school press clubs thus making it the foundation and the surest way for professional journalism.”
According to him, the training manual was developed to fill these gap, as it provide a comprehensive training program that can be used by both the trainee and trainer, and noted that the manual also uses participator instructional technique based on learning objective and activities.
He explained, “It also serve as a resource material for cub reporters and ‘college level’ journalism student. This ten-unit manual also covers contents of relevant topic in journalism and can be adapted for an international audience.”
“Trainers are also encouraged to adapt or develop exercises in line with the learning objective as may be need for their own presentation. So, as we deploy this High School Journalism Training Manual, our next step is to commission the writing of the Training of trainer (TOT) Manual.
“”So, we are committed to undertaking this next stage of TOT Manual Development with the support of our donor and partners organizations for its successful implementation/actualization,” Mr. Kamara added.
Meanwhile, officially launching the Youth Journalism Manual, Internews Chief of Party, media Lien Bach thank the YMA and team for the initiative and at the same time pledge to the institution (Internews) fullest support to ensure that the manual is used for its internal purpose.
