Liberia
Democracy and Governance
Updates from the Field - STAR Radio Blends Urban-Rural Dialogue in Liberia
Updates from the FieldUpdates from the Field (or Progress Reports) on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.com by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
|
Recent Updates from the Field
- Mar 5, 2009 - STAR radio Sales Department Holds Workshop for Sales Representatives
- Jan 5, 2009 - STAR Interview with U.S. Peace Corps Director
- Jan 5, 2009 - Senior Liberian Politician interviewed on STAR radio's "I Beg to Differ" debate program
- Jan 5, 2009 - Lawmakers on STAR's "I Beg to Differ" evening debate program
- Dec 9, 2008 - Visiting Canadian Journalists Interviewed on STAR radio
- Dec 9, 2008 - STAR Journalist Covers Allegation of Pollution in Margibi County
- Dec 9, 2008 - Students train as broadcast journalists and report on their schools!
- Jul 29, 2008 - STAR Radio Named Best Station in Liberia!
STAR radio Sales Department Holds Workshop for Sales Representatives
By Olivia Swen - Senior Producer STAR radio, March 05, 2009 01:05 PM
The one day event taught the Sales representatives different techniques in sales that will help them understand the essence of radio broadcast, its social responsibilities, obligations and principles that guide them in their operations. The participants learned, among other things, to understand the role of STAR radio as a media entity in post-conflict Liberia, become knowledgeable about increasing their sales ,and using their full potential to achieve professionalism in marketing STAR radio with potential sponsors and advertisers.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work? 
STAR Interview with U.S. Peace Corps Director
By Olivia Swen - U.S. Official Featured on STAR Radio, January 08, 2009 04:01 PM
Mr. Tschetter leads the new team of Peace Corps Volunteers in Liberia, the first volunteers to come to Liberia in many years. Twelve new volunteers of the Peace Corps program were sworn in to begin work in Liberia with a focus on education. The American Peace Corps Program withdrew from the Liberia in 1990.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Senior Liberian Politician interviewed on STAR radio's "I Beg to Differ" debate program
By Olivia Swen - Moses Wenyou Interviews Liberian Finance Minister , January 06, 2009 05:58 PM
Finance Minister Augustine Ngarfuahn discusses a wide range of financial issues including corruption and budgetary allocation in government with STAR radio’s Moses Wenyou on the program “I Beg to Differ.”
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Lawmakers on STAR's "I Beg to Differ" evening debate program
By Olivia Swen - STAR Journalist Sorbor George Interviews Lawmakers, January 06, 2009 05:54 PM
Two Montserrado County Lawmakers, Former House Speaker Edwin Snowe and Representative Ketterkumeh Murry, were recently featured on STAR radio’s evening debate program “I Beg to Differ” with Sorbor George. They discussed among other topics the merits of the Legislature reviewing audit reports.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Visiting Canadian Journalists Interviewed on STAR radio
By Olivia Swen - Journalists for Human Rights on STAR Radio, December 09, 2008 03:32 PM
STAR radio often features notable visitors to Liberia on its regular programming. For example, three journalists from the nonprofit organization ”Journalists for Human Rights” appeared on Star radio’s “Ask the Expert” program in November 2008.
Journalists for Human Rights, based in Canada, is a partner organization of the Liberia Media Center. The visiting journalists discussed with STAR announcer Veronica Kpan their mission to the country.
Rebecca Murray, Head trainer of the group, is a print journalist. Grant Fuller is a Radio Trainer. Arwen Kidd is a Television Production Trainer.
Journalists for Human Rights, based in Canada, is a partner organization of the Liberia Media Center. The visiting journalists discussed with STAR announcer Veronica Kpan their mission to the country.
Rebecca Murray, Head trainer of the group, is a print journalist. Grant Fuller is a Radio Trainer. Arwen Kidd is a Television Production Trainer.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
STAR Journalist Covers Allegation of Pollution in Margibi County
By Olivia Swen - STAR Radio Nation-Wide Reporting, December 09, 2008 03:32 PM
A team of Star radio reporters made their way through several rivers in order to complete their story. The team boarded a canoe on the Farmington River, one of the largest rivers in the country, located in Margibi County, to verify a story of pollution by the Firestone Rubber Plantation alleged by residents of the area.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
Students train as broadcast journalists and report on their schools!
By Olivia Swen - Liberian High School_Special Program on STAR Radio, December 09, 2008 03:31 PM
Star radio, in its quest to enhance its training services, has ended a 5-week training program for nine high schools in the country.
The training program was organized to prepare the students to professionally cover and report on events at their respective schools for the STAR radio “High School Special Program.”
The training program sharpened the skills of 24 students in reading, writing and presenting radio programs. The training program ran from October 18- November 15, 2008.
The training program was organized to prepare the students to professionally cover and report on events at their respective schools for the STAR radio “High School Special Program.”
The training program sharpened the skills of 24 students in reading, writing and presenting radio programs. The training program ran from October 18- November 15, 2008.
Pictures:
Want to support this project's continued work?
STAR Radio Named Best Station in Liberia!
By Sharon Bylenga - Project Manager for W.Africa, Fondation Hirondelle, July 29, 2008 11:34 PM
The Press Union of Liberia has named Star Radio in Liberia as Radio Station of the Year for 2007/2008.
Star Radio was selected by a panel of eminent individuals headed by Ms Meg Riggs, head of the Public Diplomacy Section at the United States Embassy in Monrovia.
Two journalists from Star Radio were also awarded for their outstanding professionalism.
The Press Union of Liberia named Vivian Gartayn Best Newscaster and Bruce Boweh Best Judicial Reporter of the year.
The award ceremony was held at the Golden Beach Restaurant in Sinkor.
STAR radio is a non-profit independent news and information radio station broadcasting nation-wide in Liberia and
also in the sub-region via FM, shortwave,
affiliate community radio stations,
and the internet.
STAR radio (FM 104, SW 9525, website: www.starradio.org.lr) is a public access radio in Liberia providing national coverage on a reliable basis on FM and SW. It serves as a “private” public broadcaster given the significant support it provides to civil society and reconstruction efforts. STAR radio is a unique mix of a not-for-profit public service radio that pursues fee-for-service activities to generate income to cover its expenses.
STAR radio offers programs on current affairs and news, broadcasts 14.5 hours a day (down from 17 hours a day) in 14 Liberian languages as well as French, English and Liberian English, and offers a website with audio one-touch streaming which is highly appreciated by the Liberian Diaspora (3,500 members / 11,000 visits per month).
In 2007 STAR continued to build its reputation for top-notch reporting, but the year was marked by severe shortfalls in donor support. In response, the station undertook several cost-cutting measures and prioritized finding new ways to increase income. Above all, STAR concentrated on building its journalist training and capacity-building services in the region and now STAR radio is widely regarded throughout West Africa for its broadcast training expertise.
STAR has it all: quality, credibility, and most importantly, image. It has a brand name recognized and revered throughout Liberia because of its unique history in the country and the independence of its program content.
STAR radio allows Liberians to hear other citizens talk about issues that matter to them, the same issues that they talk about with their families and friends. This gives STAR significant meaning and relevance in this small country in West Africa that has recently emerged from over a decade of war which destroyed the country's infrastructure, and killed, maimed, and displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens.
STAR radio provides high-quality news and information on a daily basis to all Liberians. Its shows “I Beg to Differ” and “Women’s Hour” were among its most popular programs. “STAR Contact” continued to be effective in reuniting families. The national news on the hour attracted more advertisers than available timeslots. STAR radio’s main challenges in 2007, its second full year on-air, were to continue cutting costs, further develop its advertising base, expand income earning services, and find new sources of donor support.
STAR's key achievements for the Press Union of Liberia's award were as follows:
• STAR radio continued to be the primary sources of reliable, balanced and impartial news and information throughout Liberia, serving all Liberians, other media, and the diaspora.
• The station provided a national public service medium for citizens to express their views and for residents to restore contact with missing relatives.
• Training sessions for journalists from West Africa provided "hands-on experience and focused on journalism and ethical reporting as well as technical aspects of broadcasting. STAR is now considered the reference training center for journalists in the area and these training activities brought much needed income to the station.
• STAR advertising staff received training in sales and marketing as well as advertising spot design.
• Several STAR staff won international recognition: Wellington Geevon-Smith, News Editor, was chosen as an Edward R. Murrow Fellow by the U.S. State Department and Joseph Cheeseman, Editor-in-Chief, was selected by the BBC Trust to cover the Charles Taylor trial in the Hague. The People’s Republic of China invited STAR Station Manager James K. Morlu to attend a conference of foreign press in Beijing in May. Two other journalists were selected for an American university exchange program. Jeff Tarnue, a STAR producer and announcer who is visually impaired, was the recipient of free software from Freedom Scientific based in Florida, USA. The software, JAWS, assists him in his computer work for his weekly program for the handicapped titled “We Too Have A Voice.”
• A fundraising initiative and the intensive search of new sources of support to STAR resulted in many new contacts for STAR radio.
STAR radio in 2007 had a “luxuriating effect,” allowing ordinary citizens to understand and participate in political life. When democracy flourishes, people are empowered and this has significant implications for peace, security, and reconstruction. STAR radio journalists give ordinary people the opportunity to voice their opinions in public forums, political debates, and interviews, offering the Liberian public a dialogue that is directly relevant to their lives.
Star Radio was selected by a panel of eminent individuals headed by Ms Meg Riggs, head of the Public Diplomacy Section at the United States Embassy in Monrovia.
Two journalists from Star Radio were also awarded for their outstanding professionalism.
The Press Union of Liberia named Vivian Gartayn Best Newscaster and Bruce Boweh Best Judicial Reporter of the year.
The award ceremony was held at the Golden Beach Restaurant in Sinkor.
STAR radio is a non-profit independent news and information radio station broadcasting nation-wide in Liberia and
also in the sub-region via FM, shortwave,
affiliate community radio stations,
and the internet.
STAR radio (FM 104, SW 9525, website: www.starradio.org.lr) is a public access radio in Liberia providing national coverage on a reliable basis on FM and SW. It serves as a “private” public broadcaster given the significant support it provides to civil society and reconstruction efforts. STAR radio is a unique mix of a not-for-profit public service radio that pursues fee-for-service activities to generate income to cover its expenses.
STAR radio offers programs on current affairs and news, broadcasts 14.5 hours a day (down from 17 hours a day) in 14 Liberian languages as well as French, English and Liberian English, and offers a website with audio one-touch streaming which is highly appreciated by the Liberian Diaspora (3,500 members / 11,000 visits per month).
In 2007 STAR continued to build its reputation for top-notch reporting, but the year was marked by severe shortfalls in donor support. In response, the station undertook several cost-cutting measures and prioritized finding new ways to increase income. Above all, STAR concentrated on building its journalist training and capacity-building services in the region and now STAR radio is widely regarded throughout West Africa for its broadcast training expertise.
STAR has it all: quality, credibility, and most importantly, image. It has a brand name recognized and revered throughout Liberia because of its unique history in the country and the independence of its program content.
STAR radio allows Liberians to hear other citizens talk about issues that matter to them, the same issues that they talk about with their families and friends. This gives STAR significant meaning and relevance in this small country in West Africa that has recently emerged from over a decade of war which destroyed the country's infrastructure, and killed, maimed, and displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens.
STAR radio provides high-quality news and information on a daily basis to all Liberians. Its shows “I Beg to Differ” and “Women’s Hour” were among its most popular programs. “STAR Contact” continued to be effective in reuniting families. The national news on the hour attracted more advertisers than available timeslots. STAR radio’s main challenges in 2007, its second full year on-air, were to continue cutting costs, further develop its advertising base, expand income earning services, and find new sources of donor support.
STAR's key achievements for the Press Union of Liberia's award were as follows:
• STAR radio continued to be the primary sources of reliable, balanced and impartial news and information throughout Liberia, serving all Liberians, other media, and the diaspora.
• The station provided a national public service medium for citizens to express their views and for residents to restore contact with missing relatives.
• Training sessions for journalists from West Africa provided "hands-on experience and focused on journalism and ethical reporting as well as technical aspects of broadcasting. STAR is now considered the reference training center for journalists in the area and these training activities brought much needed income to the station.
• STAR advertising staff received training in sales and marketing as well as advertising spot design.
• Several STAR staff won international recognition: Wellington Geevon-Smith, News Editor, was chosen as an Edward R. Murrow Fellow by the U.S. State Department and Joseph Cheeseman, Editor-in-Chief, was selected by the BBC Trust to cover the Charles Taylor trial in the Hague. The People’s Republic of China invited STAR Station Manager James K. Morlu to attend a conference of foreign press in Beijing in May. Two other journalists were selected for an American university exchange program. Jeff Tarnue, a STAR producer and announcer who is visually impaired, was the recipient of free software from Freedom Scientific based in Florida, USA. The software, JAWS, assists him in his computer work for his weekly program for the handicapped titled “We Too Have A Voice.”
• A fundraising initiative and the intensive search of new sources of support to STAR resulted in many new contacts for STAR radio.
STAR radio in 2007 had a “luxuriating effect,” allowing ordinary citizens to understand and participate in political life. When democracy flourishes, people are empowered and this has significant implications for peace, security, and reconstruction. STAR radio journalists give ordinary people the opportunity to voice their opinions in public forums, political debates, and interviews, offering the Liberian public a dialogue that is directly relevant to their lives.
Pictures:
