The Informer (Monrovia)
29 June 2009
The Public Information Section of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has awarded certificates to 11 Liberian journalists as 'trainers' following a weeklong intensive training program in Monrovia.
The 11 journalists were drawn from five print and five electronic media institutions, and one from the Liberian News Agency (LINA) of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Fifteen journalists were invited for the training but 11(including the Editor of The Informer) responded, Head of UNMIL Media and Development Section, James Worlo, who planned and conducted the training program, said.
Speaking at the closing and certification program Saturday, Mr. Worlo said he was pleased that the 11 journalists successfully completed the training program and have acquired new knowledge, skills and attitudes they would transfer to others.
The journalists were trained to return to their various media institutions to identify training needs and propose training programs or workshops for the betterment of their respective institutions said Worlo, a renown Liberian media professional lecturing Development Communication at the University of Liberia.
In her first meeting following her appointment as Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Liberia, Ms. Ellen Margaret Loj told a town hall meeting that as UNMIL draws down, there's need for the capacity building of Liberians in taking ownership of everything when UNMIL leaves in the future.
It is in recognition of this important call that UNMIL Public Information Section organized the training course purposely to upgrade and transfer training skills to media practitioners responsible for training at their institutions to be trained as 'trainers' in other to be able to train other media personnel in various areas of journalism, Mr. Worlo justified.
Making remarks on behave of her colleagues, Mrs. Weemon Jallacole-Boyce of the Liberia Broadcasting System commended UNMIL for the opportunity provided: the knowledge, skills and attitude acquired during the weeklong challenging exercises.
She said participants have acquired new ideas that will live with them for life, and extended special commendations to the chief trainer, Mr. Worlo and Anthony Selmah, Communication Analyst at the UNDP.
Meanwhile the head of Publications at UNMIL Public Information Section Mathew Elavanathoduka has called on Liberian journalists (media institutions) to seriously consider professionalism in their reportage.
He said many stories making banner headlines in some of the country's newspapers were mere opinions, something he said was wrong in journalism.
He urged the media to become serious and report in issues that would benefit the public and the country rather than engaging in unethical and unprofessional journalism, saying, "I am not here to call names."
Mr. Elavanathoduka then challenged the 11 journalists to go and exercise what they have learnt during the "Train the Trainer Course" that took place at the Malin Corner (Old LMC Compound) on Bushrod Island.
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