A Liberian journalist taking part in the Foundation’s Wealth of Nations programme has helped force a U-turn after he reported on dozens of students who had had their funding cut by Liberia’s national oil company, NOCAL. NOCAL hit the headlines in June 2015 when it suddenly announced it was close to bankruptcy. The story figured strongly…
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Call for Applications: New Narratives and Thomson Reuters Foundation Wealth of Nations project
Take part in our new project, run in collaboration with New Narratives, that supports Liberian journalists and news organizations in covering the country’s oil industry. The call for applications is now closed. Please read on for general information about the scheme. The project will run from 2015-16 and will feature training, mentoring and capacity building…
CPJ Calls on President Sirleaf to Release NN’s Rodney Sieh
Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of the Republic of Liberia Executive Mansion Capitol Hill, Monrovia Republic of Liberia Dear President Sirleaf A year ago, you became only the second African head of state to endorse the Declaration of Table Mountain, which calls for the repeal of criminal defamation and “insult” laws throughout Africa. Now,…
New Narratives teams with Thomson Reuters for 3-year Oil Reporting Program
New Narratives is delighted to announce it has partnered with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the corporate charity of Thomson Reuters to run a project that supports Liberian journalists and news organizations to cover the country’s oil industry. The project will run from 2014-16 and will feature training, mentoring and capacity building for Liberian journalists and news organizations….
NN’s Wade Williams Features on World Press Day Forum at UN HQ in New York
New Narratives’ Wade Williams, Newsroom Chief of Front Page Africa, was invited to appear on UNESCO panel celebrating World Press Day at UN headquarters in New York City. See the video of the speech here and news about the event here. The following is Wade’s speech: Good Morning all First of all let me say a big…
NN’s Mae Azango Features in The Guardian
One big reason why Buzzfeed might never win a Pulitzer prize. The NSA revelations, and Africa’s courageous reporters, make it clear that the toughest journalism won’t work as a list or a gallery. By Peter Preston Sunday 20 April 2014 Editor Alan Rusbridger addresses staff in the newsroom after the Guardian won a Pulitzer prize for…
New Narratives Reporters Profiled in Valerie Magazine
After the War, Liberian Women Fight for a New Future MONROVIA, Liberia—As a feminist and reporter based in West Africa, I was drawn to Liberia by the promise of women, who played a significant role in rebuilding a nation left shattered by 14 years of civil war. The international face of the West African country…
NN’s Tecee Boley Wins Prestigious Scholarship to South African University
New Narratives is immensely proud that our fellow and Senior Reporter for Front Page Africa Tecee Boley has won the 2014 Konrad-Adnauer-Stiftung scholarship to the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tecee was one of three journalists chosen from across Africa for the prestigious program. Tecee was one of the first reporters to…
NN’s Mae Azango’s Brave Reporting Features on Chime for Change
When Mae Azango wrote her cover story on the health effects of female genital cutting in Liberia’s major newspaper, FrontPage Africa on International Women’s Day in March 2012 she had little idea of the firestorm she would ignite. Within days Mae and her 9-year-old daughter were in hiding – the targets of death threats from…
A Bruising Battle and Important Win for African News Media by NN’s Rodney Sieh of FrontPage Africa
For the first time in Liberia a news outlet has built up enough credibility and trust that Liberians were willing to rise up to defend it. Perhaps I’ll be able to laugh one day when I look back at my time in a Liberian jail cell these last few months. In some ways it was…
NN’s Robtel Pailey on High Level Panel at Ibrahim Forum
NN’s Robtel Pailey joined a panel on Safety & Rule of Law with some of Africa’s heavyweights, as part of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation annual Forum, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Panelists included: Dr. Salid Ahmed Salim, former chair of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU); Trevor Manuel, minister in the South African cabinet; Jean Ping,…
NN’s Robtel Pailey launches “Gbagba” in London, moderated by NN head Prue Clarke
Please join us as NN opinion writer Robtel Pailey launches her children’s book “Gbagba” (with illustrations by NN’s Chase Walker) at the School of Oriental and African studies in London tonight. The event will be moderated by NN Executive Director Prue Clarke. Date: 9 December 2013Time: 5:30 PM Finishes: 9 December 2013Time: 7:00 PM Venue: Russell Square: College BuildingsRoom: 4429 Type…
NN Executive Director Shortlisted for Australian Social Innovation Award
New Narratives is delighted our Co-founder and Executive Director Prue Clarke has been shortlisted for the Advance Global Australian Social Innovation award recognizing her work with us. The Awards celebrate Australians and alumni from Australian universities living overseas who exhibit remarkable talent, exceptional vision and ambition. Prue was born in Australia and started her journalism…
FreeRodney.org Site Launched with Petition Demanding Editor’s Release
Supporters of FrontPage Africa editor-in-chief Rodney Sieh have launched a website demanding his immediate release. Please find a petition on the site. FrontPage Africa is New Narratives’ major partner in Liberia and has worked with us on a range of important stories that have forced action in Liberia and garnered attention around the world. Sieh…
Jailed for Journalism: FrontPage Africa Editor in The New York Times
MONROVIA, Liberia — IT’S not uncommon in African countries like Zimbabwe and Ethiopia for newspapers to be shut, and their editors jailed. But the newspaper I edit doesn’t operate in a dictatorship. We are in Liberia, the West’s poster child for postwar democracy building. Our president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is a Nobel laureate who is celebrated by…
NN’s Robtel Pailey named to Top 99 Foreign Policy Professionals Under 33
WASHINGTON, DC: The Diplomatic Courier and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy are pleased to announce that Robtel Pailey, Opinion Columnist with New Narratives, has been recognized on the 2013 “99 Under 33,” an international list noting the most influential foreign policy leaders under the age of 33. The complete list is available at: www.diplomaticourier.com/99Under33. See…
In Liberia, silencing press critics through libel lawsuits
From NN executive: We are reposting this article from July 2011 in light of the Liberian Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold the $1.5m libel verdict against FrontPage Africa. During Liberia’s 14-year civil war, the press was silenced through violence. Journalists now say they are the victims of a more subtle assault. They say a…
NN’s Mae Azango profiled by Internews for UNESCO World Press Freedom Forum in Costa Rica
A Fierce Champion for Women Braves Death Threats and Job Loss She has a broad smile and open, friendly face. But Liberian journalist Mae Azango has the fierce and courageous heart of a warrior. Although she has received death threats and lost her job over her discussion of sensitive topics, she remains a staunch advocate…
NN’s Wade Williams Wins Journalist of the Year
New Narratives fellow and FrontPage Africa newsroom chief Wade Williams has been awarded the prestigious Journalist of the Year award at Liberia’s annual media awards. Wade is only the second woman to win the award. The UN’s Eva Flomo won the award in 2011. Wade has been with the New Narratives program since January 2011….
NN’s Wade Williams at UN luncheon in New York City featuring Jeffrey Sachs
NN’s Wade Williams of FrontPage Africa speaks at a UN luncheon in New York City featuring Jeffrey Sachs during her Dag Hammarskjold fellowship. Hear speech here. From Dag Hammarskjold Fund for Journalists release: 2012 Annual Luncheon JEFFREY SACHS HONORED BY U.N. JOURNALISTS The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists honored Dr. Jeffrey Sachs with their Inspiration…
NN Reporting Prompts Govt to Announce Elimination of Female Genital Cutting Day
In the wake of the international uproar prompted by death threats against NN Country Manager Mae Azango, the Liberian government has taken the unprecedented step of announcing February 6 will be “Intensifying Efforts for Elimination of Female Genital Cutting” Day. Before the breakthrough reporting by Azango in FrontPage Africa and NN fellow Tetee Gebro for…