Alja Convention, 2021

The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas, ALJA ended a four day convention in Trenton, New Jersey with a charge from a Panelist for the Media to reimagine the future by adapting media ethics through intersectional feminist lens.

Women’s Rights Activist and “Media Watcher Ms. Korto Reeves made the charge among multiple others, this weekend when she spoke to a cross of Journalists in the United States and Liberia.

Addressing the theme: “Towards A More Ethical, Independent and Sustainable Media in Liberia”

Ms. Reeves challenged the media “to pick themselves up from the doldrums of manipulation and irrelevance” by undertaking groundbreaking research, further learning on external context, exploring and specializing non-conventional frontlines on development issues: including gender equality, climate justice, the environment, debt crisis, public services among others, as well as unpacking the the 1926 development model that keeps ordinary people in poverty.

Ms. Reeves noted that “Liberia is not divorced from external trends”, therefore, the media must Connect to regional and global alliances for access to research and studies on media ethics and sustainable models for democracy building and civil society engagement on the continent.

“First, we must rely on media ethics models that exist across the continent. We must forge relationships of solidarity and shared learning to face significant milestones of Liberia and the media. We must do this to protect the freedom, responsibility, independence, and equality of people working in the media (men and women). We need an active, engaging, and informed civil society. This process is about accountability,” she said.

The articulate “Media Watcher” pointed out that to address the critical issue of media reform in Liberia, “simultaneously we must clean the house and acknowledge the rights of all. Women rights matter in the media. We must increase skills and produce knowledge. This action will allow us to contextualize standards to address the quality deficit and limitations of creative response.

The media is one of the few bastions of hope to demand accountability for this social contract we hold with the state. Our traditional media institutions, journalists, and human rights activists must build new systems and structures for adaptation to the changing global landscape. Knowledge-based empowerment will support a media marked by strong consensus formed by training and learning. The jolt must happen now,” she asserted.

The convention which spanned from Thursday, September 23, 2021, to Sunday, September 26, 2021, included a variety of events and activities, including a workshop.

The workshop, held on the following topics: New Media Technology and Digital Reporting, Media Ethics and Investigative Journalism in the Age of Social Media, Fake News and Disinformation and More, comprised of enriching training sessions done by Experts and Professors, including Media Ethics and Law Professor Jane Kirtley of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Minnesota, who facilitated an enlightening and interactive session on ethical issues in the media.

Still on the issue of reimagining the future of the media, by exploring ideas and strategies to create economic viability and sustainability for the media in this competitive age of social media, Ms. Janet Stewart led a discussion on tips and experiences of what works and what didn’t work well with old delivery methods of Journalism practice, and the new ways, which incorporate areas of specialization, with particular focus on the full inclusion of all people, especially people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so as to tell better stories.

Ms. Stewart, Managing Editor of the Institute of Community Integration, flag publication, Impact, ICI, University of Minnesota, advocates and works to create content for the rights and full inclusion of all people, especially people with disabilities.

Another very important highlight of this year’s convention of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas, ALJA convention, was the association National elections during which time members of the organization elected a corps of officers to lead the organization for two years.

This weekend, the Association overwhelmingly elected, the only female contender in a predominantly male election, in person of Ms. Akai Glidden as Secretary General of the organization for the second term.

Ms. Glidden had first stepped up in the position of the Association’s Secretary General more than two years ago to fill up the gap and complete the term left vacant by a previous S. G.

Ms. Glidden then got elected in the last elections as Secretary General, following her completion of the previous term when she served as Acting S.G. for the term left incomplete by a previous S.G.

This Saturday, in a highly competitive elections, Ms. Glidden won a landslide victory as the first and only female on the Association National Leadership where she will serve for the next two years.

Making remarks at the end of the convention on Sunday evening, the Association’s President stated that the association intends to scout out opportunities for engagements with organizations that are working for women and children rights to add the association’s voice to the issue of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.

‘We believe that the issue of SGBV is not only a human right issue, but a serious governance issue that has to do with the right to safety, security and equal justice, where one group of our population, (Women and girls) need to feel protected by our government must be taken seriously.

Women and girls continue to experience violence in almost every sphere of our society,’ he added.

According to the Association President, ALJA is looking into the possibility of incentivizing reporters covering GBV related issues because such issues are mostly under-reported in the Country.

He said incentives would be provided either directly or through the PUL annual awards program with the goal of motivating Journalists to give GBV related stories prominence.

This year’s convention is the 7th annual gathering and biggest so far, of the association’s members and supporters since the resuscitation of Association in the State of Delaware, in 2015, after a decade of its dormancy.

ALJA is a media advocacy group championing the cause of Press Freedom through media development and the principles of good governance in Liberia through social justice advocacy.

It’s members include current and retired Liberian Journalists residing in the Americas with the mission to foster camaraderie among its members.

The Organization was first founded in 1998 in Washington, D.C. USA, by a group of Liberian Journalists.

Connect with ALJA on the following platforms:

Facebook here – https://www.facebook.com/aljaonline/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/aljaonline?s=21

YouTube – https://youtube.com/channel/UC53EBnEWOD2MFGUNw9yykzg

Or on our website by clicking on the link below –

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