MONROVIA, November 15 (LINA)-The Program Manager of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), Mr. Senesee Freeman, has pledged his organization’s commitment to work with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and the National Election Commission (NEC) to help build the capacity of the Liberian media in election coverage.
He observed that the Liberian media is critical to the rebuilding of the country and that as such building their capacity is of vital concern to IFES, especially as Liberia prepares for the conduct of the Midterm Senatorial election.
Mr. Freeman made the commitment Friday at a one-day forum to review the election code of conduct for media coverage of the upcoming special senatorial election held at the YMCA conference hall on Broad Street in Monrovia.
He called on media practitioners to be professional in election reportage and avoid unethical behavior, as doing so could create instability in the country.
The session, funded by USAID through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), brought together stakeholders to review the existing PUL Election Code of Conduct that was developed to guide the media in providing professional coverage of the special senatorial election.
The Chairperson of the Mass Communications Department of the University of Liberia, Professor Weade Kobbah Wureh and the head the Press Union’s Grievance and Ethics Committee, Frank B. Sainworla, among others, facilitated the session.
Freeman also assured the PUL that following the validation of the Code of Conduct, IFES will sponsor regional training sessions across the country to ensure that journalists understand and abide by the code of conduct while exercising their professional duties to inform and educate the public about the electoral process.
In remarks at the forum, PUL President Kamarah A.Kamarah lauded media managers for gracing the workshop, and encouraged them to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired for the betterment of the Liberian Media and the state.
The workshop evaluated lessons learnt from the media coverage of the 2011 elections, reviewed general ethical issues in the media and considered precautions of the Ebola epidemic in the coverage of the pending senatorial election.
Participants of the workshop were drawn from the mainstream media in Monrovia and from rural community radios.
LINA/RD/GDJ/TSS