The Program
New Narratives, a non-governmental organization that has been driving improvements in Liberia’s media sector for 9 years, is recruiting journalists for a year-long program that supports Liberian media to cover the country’s extractives industry. Support for the project comes from the German Development Cooperation.
The program has a focus on mining, which is an important and growing part of the Liberian economy. Liberia is home to resources including iron ore and gold, and these could earn the country significant revenues to be put towards sustainable development. But is there enough oversight of the sector? That’s where the media comes in.
We are looking for Liberian journalists to take part in this 14-month scheme. It will run through October 2020 and will feature training, mentoring and editorial support to help journalists produce original, accurate and engaging coverage of the mining sector that would not have come about otherwise. Modest funding will be available to journalists to help them produce stories, particularly where travel is involved. The selected Liberian journalists will learn from their colleagues, and collaborate with journalists from Sierra Leone, who will be participating in a parallel project focusing on extractives issues within their own country. A selected group of Liberian reporters will be invited to travel to Sierra Leone to report with colleagues there.
The first training workshop will take place in Monrovia on September 19th, 20th and 21st and all participants will be expected to take part for the full program.
By taking part, participants will learn about a range of extractives sector issues including contracts, the management of revenues, the implications for Liberia’s economy, and the environmental impact of the industry. It will encourage journalism that relates these issues to the lives of citizens through engaging storytelling.
Eligibility
We are looking for journalists who:
- Report for a national media outlet in Liberia – print, online, radio or television journalists are eligible
- Have at least two years of professional experience as a journalist
- Are motivated to cover the extractives industry and how it relates to other aspects of life in Liberia
The Rules
Please note: journalists taking part in the program must report the extractives industry in an independent manner and must not take payment from any sources in the course of their reporting. The project will not tolerate the acceptance of such payment. Participants will be required to sign an agreement to this effect.
Application process
To apply send a cover letter detailing why you want to take part in this scheme, as well as a CV and two writing samples or links to online work to [email protected]
The deadline is the August 16th, 2019.
New Narratives provides resources, editorial and business support to help leading African media houses deliver independent, honest news that Africans use to drive change. Working in Liberia since 2010, New Narratives reporters have repeatedly broken stories that have prompted action on major societal issues such as teen prostitution, child labor and the growing drug trade. Reporting has won major national and international awards and appeared in media around the world.