As Liberian lawmakers prepare to return from their annual constituency break, the Women's Legislative Caucus of Liberia (WLCL) is fostering a new relationship with assigned legislative reporters. The goal is to promote improved public outreach and accurate reporting on their legislative efforts. The Chairperson of WLCL, Ellen Attoh-Wreh, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the media in effectively communicating their work to citizens locally and abroad.
The WLCL recently held a one-day National Media Roundtable at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, which aimed to strengthen collaboration and build stronger working relationships between women legislators and media institutions. The meeting provided a platform for open dialogue, improved media understanding of the WLCL's mandate, and promoted regular, accurate, and balanced reporting on women's legislative leadership.
The initiative is part of a broader $1 million project designed to empower women in government and enhance their visibility, funded by the IBSA partnership and supported by UN Women. Rep. Attoh-Wreh stressed that strong collaboration between women lawmakers and the media is crucial for sharing information about their work accurately and widely.
The President of the Press Union of Liberia, Julius Kullie Kanubah, highlighted the critical role of the media in promoting societal growth and encouraged women lawmakers to see the media as a strategic partner. He emphasized that the media is not just a messenger but a powerful partner in shaping narratives, influencing public opinion, and holding institutions accountable.
Kanubah outlined three critical areas for media partnerships to amplify women's legislative leadership: creating visibility and representation, advocacy and agenda setting, and capacity building and collaboration. He called for consistent coverage of women legislators in news stories, debates, and policy discussions, highlighting their achievements and policy initiatives.
Kanubah also recognized the challenges journalists face, including limited resources for women legislators to engage effectively with the media, disinformation, and online harassment. To overcome these challenges, he proposed joint media-legislative forums, media monitoring mechanisms, and investing in digital platforms to amplify women's voices.
The collaboration between women lawmakers and legislative reporters aims to promote accurate and balanced reporting on women's legislative leadership and contributions to national development. The partnership seeks to create a platform for open dialogue and strengthen working relationships between women legislators and media institutions across Liberia.
Key points
- The Women's Legislative Caucus of Liberia is seeking stronger ties with legislative reporters to improve public outreach and accurate reporting on their work.
- The initiative is part of a broader $1 million project to empower women in government and enhance their visibility.
- The media partnership aims to promote accurate and balanced reporting on women's legislative leadership and contributions to national development.
