Africa-Press – Liberia. Six rural journalists have received smartphones and reporting gear from the Liberia Forest Media Watch (LFMW) as part of a broader effort to improve forest-related journalism across Liberia.
The donation followed a two-day intensive training workshop on forest reporting, held from April 17–18, 2025, and supported by the European Union through the French Development Agency. The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of rural reporters covering environmental and forest governance issues.
Each of the six journalists, who are part of LFMW’s Rural Reporters News Network, received a Tecno Spark 30c smartphone (132 GB) and a branded reporting vest. The selected journalists were drawn from Lofa, River Gee, Grand Kru, and Sinoe counties, and were recognized for their consistent reporting and commitment since the network’s formation.
Speaking at the presentation, LFMW Team Leader Paul Kanneh said the initiative is part of a broader strategy to equip rural journalists with the tools and confidence to tell compelling, accurate stories about natural resource management and forest conservation.
“These gadgets are tools for truth-telling, not for blackmailing,” Kanneh emphasized. “We want to empower rural journalists to compete with their urban counterparts and change the outdated perception that rural reporting is inferior.”
The training covered investigative techniques, GPS tracking, fact-checking, and solution journalism, all with a focus on community forest issues. Participants were also trained on how to report stories that reflect the realities and concerns of forest-dependent communities.
Kanneh underscored LFMW’s commitment to changing the media narrative. “We’re building a platform where rural journalists can publish stories that gain national attention and recognition,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, River Gee County reporter Ben Brooks expressed gratitude to LFMW and promised to put the tools to good use.
“We will use the devices for the intended purpose,” Brooks said. “You should expect more stories and better visuals from us as we return to our respective counties.”
LFMW says the initiative will continue, with future plans to extend both training and tools to additional reporters across Liberia’s forested regions.
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