GlobalGiving.org: STAR Radio Blends Urban-Rural Dialogue in Liberia

Liberia's elections without STAR Radio

Caroline Vuillemin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:23:46 GMT

Polling staff in Monrovia - copyright IFES

On 11 October, 2011, Liberia held its second election since the conclusion of the bloody civil war that lasted from 1999 to 2003. The first round of the presidential election featured 16 candidates, including incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “Rain did not deter voters who lined up very early in the morning and kept coming throughout the day to cast their ballots, leading to a high turnout for this important election. », according to IFES. The voting process appeared to be peaceful, orderly and well-organized.

To secure a victory and avoid a second round, the candidate would have to win 50 percent plus 1 of the vote. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) announced that there will be a runoff election, which would be held on 8 November.

STAR Radio is still off air. Couple of individual donors have supported the radio but not enough to relaunch it before the elections. Its future remains uncertain and precarious.

When good will is not enough….

Caroline — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:10:16 GMT

Since December 2010, STAR Radio has suspended its broadcasting throughout Liberia and on its website. After months and months of tensed and difficult financial crisis, with liquidity’s shortages, delays in the salaries, delays with the suppliers, etc., the staff of the radio, organized in a “Association of the Staff of STAR Radio”, decided to stop working and to address many issues to the radio station’s management and Board.

The Liberian population, the listeners, are the first victims of the suspension of STAR Radio, and many are complaining, wondering what is happening. The situation has led to many rumours about mismanagement, misused of funds, taking over of the radio by the government: all of these are wrong and unfounded. For 6 months now, the Board has been trying to manage the situation by negotiating with the staff and raising money for the re-launch of the station. Despite national elections taking place in October 2011 (presidential and legislative), and the refugees situation from neighbouring Ivory Coast, Liberia is not high on the international community’s radar screen and funding to support the radio station operations (salaries, rent, power, communication, and transportation) in complement of the locally generated revenues from advertising and sponsorships is hard to get.

Global Giving and its individual donors are STAR Radio’s last chance to not close definitively. Time is of essence, all suggestions and support are welcome. Liberia and its people deserve to receive independent information, particularly now that elections time is right at the corner and that no media in Liberia have the mandate to help Liberians make informed choices for their future.

Wednesday (June 15) is Bonus Day, so GlobalGiving is matching donations at 30% all day while the $75,000 in matching funds last.

STAR wins the PUL Award forThe Best Radio of the Year

Maria Carolina Salazar — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 14:10:26 GMT

STAR Radio wins the PUL Award for The Best Radio Station of the Year !

For the second year running, STAR radio has won on July 2010, the PUL (Press Union of Liberia) Award For the Best Radio Station of the Year for its high standard and the professionalism of its news reporting and the relevance of its feature programs.

Not only STAR was chosen as the Best Radio of the Year, but STAR Radio’s reporters Bruce Boweh and Julius Kanubah also retained their awards as Judicial and Legislative Reporters of the year.

Also, Robert Clarke STAR Radio’s Executive Mansion Correspondent was for the first time named newscaster of the year.

The journalist of the year went to STAR Radio’s former News Editor and now BBC World Service Trust’s reporter at the Charles Taylor Trial in The Hague Joseph Cheeseman.

On Wednesday October 13, the Liberia Media Center with support from TrustAfrica launched the first in a series of assessments on the state and health of the media sector in Liberia, in the frame of the Media Quality Barometer.

The project targeted five radio stations and nine newspapers including STAR Radio.

STAR radio was ranked 2nd in the general ranking, topping the context ranking due to its high performance on conference and investigation. STAR also obtained the maximum points for County Coverage due to its correspondents strength across Liberia.

Overall scoring and ratings were based on six performance indicators including Diversity, Newsworthiness, Completeness/Overall Quality, Context, Grammar and Structure, and General Layout or Presentation.

STAR radio increases national coverage

James Morlu — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 06:20:15 GMT

A key factor to playing an active role in urban-rural dialogue is the capacity to broadcast to a majority of the Liberian population. STAR radio made this a priority over the last year.

Firstly, the radio successfully upgraded its technical facilities in July 2009, by installing a 3-KW FM Broadcast Transmitter, which replaced the 1-KW FM Broadcast Transmitter, in order to improve signal coverage. STAR Radio’s signal coverage has since been extended: the signal is now among the clearest and most reliable of the Monrovia based stations, reaching some 100 kilometres out of the capital city. The Station is monitored in Rivercess, Buchanan, Foya, Kolahun, and Ganta.

The need for this equipment became paramount due to interference and suppression of the 1-Kilowatt Transmitter signal in several areas by the 10-Kilowatt FM Transmitter installed at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) by the People’s Republic of China. The situation brought serious and constant loss of listenership to STAR radio and needed to be corrected. Humanity United (HU) provided financial assistance to STAR radio in the amount of US$75,000.00 to procure the much-needed FM Transmitter and assist with operations.

After that, STAR Radio restored broadcasting on short-wave 8 hours a day from the 10th of June 2010, Mondays through Fridays. The Station once operated this service using an external provider, but it was discontinued since January 5, 2009 due to its inability to cover the associated high cost. The service was very well appreciated by the general audience, particularly rural residents. So with funding from Swiss Foundation Pro Victimis, a 2.5 KW short-wave transmitter was installed in Monrovia and is directly operated by STAR staff.

Following positive results from days of test transmission, Management launched the SW Service on June 10. A formal event was held at the FM offices and STAR Board Chair performed the launching ceremony. Programs marking the occasion were simulcast on both the FM and the SW services.

Reports being received say the Station has once again captured national coverage as signals are received throughout the Country. Other reports say signals are being received in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast. The frequency is 4.025 MHz in the 75 meter band.

These developments are important to the future of STAR radio. Not only do they allow STAR to fulfill its aim to offer independent information to all of Liberia, but they also offer opportunities of increasing self-support. The wider coverage should attract more interest in purchase of commercial airspace and the short-wave transmitter may interest other media outside of STAR's hours of use, thus ensuring income via rental of this service.

STAR radio Sales Department Holds Workshop for Sales Representatives

Olivia Swen — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:51:47 GMT

Marketing and Sales Workshop at STAR radio in Monrovia

The one day event taught the Sales representatives different techniques in sales that will help them understand the essence of radio broadcast, its social responsibilities, obligations and principles that guide them in their operations. The participants learned, among other things, to understand the role of STAR radio as a media entity in post-conflict Liberia, become knowledgeable about increasing their sales ,and using their full potential to achieve professionalism in marketing STAR radio with potential sponsors and advertisers.

STAR Interview with U.S. Peace Corps Director

Olivia Swen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:43:11 GMT

Peace Corps Director Ronald Tschetter being interviewed by Star

Mr. Tschetter leads the new team of Peace Corps Volunteers in Liberia, the first volunteers to come to Liberia in many years. Twelve new volunteers of the Peace Corps program were sworn in to begin work in Liberia with a focus on education. The American Peace Corps Program withdrew from the Liberia in 1990.

Senior Liberian Politician interviewed on STAR radio's "I Beg to Differ" debate program

Olivia Swen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:36:58 GMT

Finance Minister Augustine Ngarfuahn discusses a wide range of financial issues including corruption and budgetary allocation in government with STAR radio’s Moses Wenyou on the program “I Beg to Differ.”

Lawmakers on STAR's "I Beg to Differ" evening debate program

Olivia Swen — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:20:11 GMT

Sorbor George in action on "I Beg to Differ"

Two Montserrado County Lawmakers, Former House Speaker Edwin Snowe and Representative Ketterkumeh Murry, were recently featured on STAR radio’s evening debate program “I Beg to Differ” with Sorbor George. They discussed among other topics the merits of the Legislature reviewing audit reports.

Visiting Canadian Journalists Interviewed on STAR radio

Olivia Swen — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:15:37 GMT

STAR radio often features notable visitors to Liberia on its regular programming. For example, three journalists from the nonprofit organization ”Journalists for Human Rights” appeared on Star radio’s “Ask the Expert” program in November 2008.

Journalists for Human Rights, based in Canada, is a partner organization of the Liberia Media Center. The visiting journalists discussed with STAR announcer Veronica Kpan their mission to the country.

Rebecca Murray, Head trainer of the group, is a print journalist. Grant Fuller is a Radio Trainer. Arwen Kidd is a Television Production Trainer.

STAR Journalist Covers Allegation of Pollution in Margibi County

Olivia Swen — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:07:04 GMT

A team of Star radio reporters made their way through several rivers in order to complete their story. The team boarded a canoe on the Farmington River, one of the largest rivers in the country, located in Margibi County, to verify a story of pollution by the Firestone Rubber Plantation alleged by residents of the area.

Students train as broadcast journalists and report on their schools!

Olivia Swen — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:55:06 GMT

Students with certificates from the training

Star radio, in its quest to enhance its training services, has ended a 5-week training program for nine high schools in the country.

The training program was organized to prepare the students to professionally cover and report on events at their respective schools for the STAR radio “High School Special Program.”

The training program sharpened the skills of 24 students in reading, writing and presenting radio programs. The training program ran from October 18- November 15, 2008.

STAR Radio Named Best Station in Liberia!

Sharon Bylenga — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:10:00 GMT

Congratulations to Vivian Gartayn, Winner of the Best Newscaster

The Press Union of Liberia has named Star Radio in Liberia as Radio Station of the Year for 2007/2008.

Star Radio was selected by a panel of eminent individuals headed by Ms Meg Riggs, head of the Public Diplomacy Section at the United States Embassy in Monrovia.

Two journalists from Star Radio were also awarded for their outstanding professionalism.

The Press Union of Liberia named Vivian Gartayn Best Newscaster and Bruce Boweh Best Judicial Reporter of the year.

The award ceremony was held at the Golden Beach Restaurant in Sinkor.

STAR radio is a non-profit independent news and information radio station broadcasting nation-wide in Liberia and also in the sub-region via FM, shortwave, affiliate community radio stations, and the internet.

STAR radio (FM 104, SW 9525, website: www.starradio.org.lr) is a public access radio in Liberia providing national coverage on a reliable basis on FM and SW. It serves as a “private” public broadcaster given the significant support it provides to civil society and reconstruction efforts. STAR radio is a unique mix of a not-for-profit public service radio that pursues fee-for-service activities to generate income to cover its expenses.

STAR radio offers programs on current affairs and news, broadcasts 14.5 hours a day (down from 17 hours a day) in 14 Liberian languages as well as French, English and Liberian English, and offers a website with audio one-touch streaming which is highly appreciated by the Liberian Diaspora (3,500 members / 11,000 visits per month).

In 2007 STAR continued to build its reputation for top-notch reporting, but the year was marked by severe shortfalls in donor support. In response, the station undertook several cost-cutting measures and prioritized finding new ways to increase income. Above all, STAR concentrated on building its journalist training and capacity-building services in the region and now STAR radio is widely regarded throughout West Africa for its broadcast training expertise.

STAR has it all: quality, credibility, and most importantly, image. It has a brand name recognized and revered throughout Liberia because of its unique history in the country and the independence of its program content.

STAR radio allows Liberians to hear other citizens talk about issues that matter to them, the same issues that they talk about with their families and friends. This gives STAR significant meaning and relevance in this small country in West Africa that has recently emerged from over a decade of war which destroyed the country's infrastructure, and killed, maimed, and displaced hundreds of thousands of its citizens.

STAR radio provides high-quality news and information on a daily basis to all Liberians. Its shows “I Beg to Differ” and “Women’s Hour” were among its most popular programs. “STAR Contact” continued to be effective in reuniting families. The national news on the hour attracted more advertisers than available timeslots. STAR radio’s main challenges in 2007, its second full year on-air, were to continue cutting costs, further develop its advertising base, expand income earning services, and find new sources of donor support.

STAR's key achievements for the Press Union of Liberia's award were as follows:

• STAR radio continued to be the primary sources of reliable, balanced and impartial news and information throughout Liberia, serving all Liberians, other media, and the diaspora. • The station provided a national public service medium for citizens to express their views and for residents to restore contact with missing relatives. • Training sessions for journalists from West Africa provided "hands-on experience and focused on journalism and ethical reporting as well as technical aspects of broadcasting. STAR is now considered the reference training center for journalists in the area and these training activities brought much needed income to the station. • STAR advertising staff received training in sales and marketing as well as advertising spot design. • Several STAR staff won international recognition: Wellington Geevon-Smith, News Editor, was chosen as an Edward R. Murrow Fellow by the U.S. State Department and Joseph Cheeseman, Editor-in-Chief, was selected by the BBC Trust to cover the Charles Taylor trial in the Hague. The People’s Republic of China invited STAR Station Manager James K. Morlu to attend a conference of foreign press in Beijing in May. Two other journalists were selected for an American university exchange program. Jeff Tarnue, a STAR producer and announcer who is visually impaired, was the recipient of free software from Freedom Scientific based in Florida, USA. The software, JAWS, assists him in his computer work for his weekly program for the handicapped titled “We Too Have A Voice.” • A fundraising initiative and the intensive search of new sources of support to STAR resulted in many new contacts for STAR radio.

STAR radio in 2007 had a “luxuriating effect,” allowing ordinary citizens to understand and participate in political life. When democracy flourishes, people are empowered and this has significant implications for peace, security, and reconstruction. STAR radio journalists give ordinary people the opportunity to voice their opinions in public forums, political debates, and interviews, offering the Liberian public a dialogue that is directly relevant to their lives.