The Liberia Media Center (LMC) has commenced the implementation of a nine-month Media Monitoring on Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Project. Funded by the Senegal-based Trust Africa, the project aims to determine the quality and quantity of media reports on PRS and to gauge the Liberian Government’s communication strategy in the implementation of its three-year development agenda.

In order to fully implement the project, 15 media institutions (print and electronic) were selected for monitoring. They include Daily Observer, The Inquirer, The News, Informer, Public Agenda, Heritage, New Democrat, National Chronicle and the Analyst newspapers. Others are Star Radio, Sky FM, Radio Veritas, Truth FM and Liberia state own radio, ELBC.

Project staff members are basically identifying and analyzing media performance on PRS reporting as well as Government’s progress and/or lack of progress in executing the PRS in reference to deliverables as contained in the Liberian Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Data entries for January and February 2009 editions of the monitored media outlets have been completed and are awaiting analysis; while the March 2009 editions are being monitored daily. The first quarter report, covering January through March 2009, is expected to be released by mid April 2009.

At the same time, a two-day civil society initiative workshop aimed at giving an update of projects being implemented by local grantees of Trust Africa and Humanity United has ended in Monrovia. Convened from 9 to 10 March 2009, the workshop’s participants were drawn from a cross section of civil society organizations, including the Liberia Media Center (LMC) Foundation for International Dignity (FIND), Liberia Democracy Watch (LDW), Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), Press Union of Liberia (PUL), among others. Facilitators were drawn from Humanity United (USA), Trust Africa (Senegal) and International Center for Policy Analysis (USA).    

Day One of the meeting of the minds highlighted a closed working session of the Management Committee, presentation by three grantees (LMC, FIND and LDW) on progress to date, a lunchtime address by Labor Minister Kofi Woods on “The Roles and Responsibilities of Liberia’s Government, Civil Society and Citizens.” Other activities that characterized the first day included Strengthening Organizational Governance; Effective Policy Analysis and Applying Innovative Technologies. Day two of the Workshop delved into group discussions on Governance Monitoring, Community Empowerment and Independent Media.

The Liberia Media Center (LMC) was represented by Mr. Lamii Kpargoi, Coordinator of the INFORMOTRAC Project and Mr. Robert Karpeh Reeves, Coordinator of the Media Monitoring on Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Project. During the workshop, Mr. Kpargoi gave an update of the Center’s activities, including the ongoing Trust Africa-sponsored Media Monitoring on Poverty Reduction Strategy.