During our sojourn to the seaside town of Cestos, capital of Rivercess County, we launched the Soundbooth, an audio documentary project modeled on NPR"s StoryCorps. The idea is to have two people very familiar with each other - a mother and a daughter, a teacher and a student, a pair of friends - interview each other on a story or topic relevant to their lives. StoryCorps has been doing this for a while, and has a great archive of American stories, told in conversational, intimate style. We"re … [Read more...]
Together Liberia on UNMIL Radio
Together Liberia on UNMIL Radio by Together Liberia Trainers and participants were invited to speak on the United Nations In Liberia's (UNMIL) radio program Front page to discuss their experiences durning the training and thoughts on the state of the Liberian media. Project director Ken Harper, trainers Steve Davis and Bruce Strong were joined by participants Kindness Nehwon and Clarence Nah. … [Read more...]
Local radio is key to Liberians’ stories
We began this week by spending two nights in Cestos, the capital of Rivercess County. One of the aims of the Together Liberia project is to give greater voice to people in communities outside of Monrovia. The print media here in particular seems to concentrate mostly on big-city politics. I have yet to see a single story on life outside of the nation’s capital. It might just be that I am not reading widely enough, but I don’t think so. I am trying to talk to as many journalists as I can, and … [Read more...]
Together Liberia on Truth FM, The Leading Lady
Together Liberia on Truth FM, The Leading Lady by Together Liberia Believe in yourself. Don’t be bitter. Don’t be negative. You can do it. From 10:15 to 11 every Friday night from a studio in downtown Monrovia, “The Leading Lady” on Truth FM 96.1 talks Liberians into believing in themselves — and, she hopes, out of their feelings of despair. Matenneh-Rose Dunbar may not be a psychologist, but she sounds like one on the air. All of Liberia is her therapist’s couch. Her … [Read more...]
Hope, Bit by Bit
Smiles, more smiles than before, that"s what was passing by as we drove into Congo Town Liberia. A hard life hardens the sweetest face and lack of hope keeps it there but things are changing, bit by bit, for the better. You know, I keep coming back to hope. This, as you can imagine, is a slippery commodity, shifting from individual to individual, circumstance to circumstance, let alone a whole nation. What do I know, an American coming along every now and then. I don"t care, I choose to see … [Read more...]
