The Demise of Professional Journalism in Liberia
By Kukatonon News Editorial Board
Professional Journalism in Liberia attained a greater degree of independence toward government and policymakers long before the end of the country’s Civil Wars.
The news media in Liberia became less deferential toward government leaders. Editors and broadcast news producers enjoyed considerable control over what they presented; for several decades, they enjoyed relatively captive markets.
By then, the independent Liberian media was regarded to be one of the most vibrant in West Africa. As Liberia prepares for presidential and general elections in October of this year, efforts must begin now to enable journalists to report and publish news of these changes in Liberia so people will better appreciate the fragile gift of democracy.
Newspaper reading remained widespread during those years. A determinate number of broadcast services in Liberia meant that news programs did not have to over-attend to viewer preferences.
This model began to break down after 2005 with the dawn of the post-war dispensation that brought in Africa’s first female President.
The decline in strong independent reportage as well as the hard work of gathering the preparing the contents for comprehensive delivery witnessed a gradual downward trend came in as social media took a centered stage in 2010.
While still respecting the works of a few news media entities that continue to keep the torch burning, this decline has reached a disproportional rate as many persons using social media platforms are now purporting to be Online Televisions owners with just the use of a smartphone and the internet without any journalistic training or experience.
That is why Kukatonon News has come to the limelight to only be a source of credible, balanced, and accurate news but also a medium of training to bring back the lost dignity of media in Liberia.
Using technology, Kukatonon News brings factual, credible, and trustworthy news with exactitude.
Kukatonon Multimedia Training Programme (KMTP) is here to provide intense short and long-term training to improve the professional skills of reporters and editors. Emphasis is being placed on the use of technology to solve the problems of our global village.
