The Deputy Speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives, Rep. Thomas Fallah has assured media stakeholders of his commitment for the passage of a bill seeking to give exclusive ownership and management to community radio stations.
Deputy Speaker Fallah averred that the intent of the Bill is acceptable and on the right path to safeguard and strengthen the media capacity to provide authentic and creditable information.
“Establishing community radio is easy. Sustaining it is difficult. This bill will change the landscape of media in Liberia,” he said.
The lawmaker expressed concerns over politicians using their influence over these stations to manipulate and distort information for their selfish political gains.
This is something he noted that must be seriously addressed during the discussion on the bill.
According to him, such a situation has the proclivity to compromise the independence of media outlets.
Fallah, lawmaker of Lofa’s first district made these assertions Wednesday, 29 May 2024 during a Legislative Roundtable Meeting on Media Law Reform held at the Capitol Building.
For her part, the Country Representative of Internews, Lien Bach lauded members of the Legislature for their continual support to the community radio sector.
She disclosed that Internews and partners are currently supporting thirty (30) community radio stations with technical capacity and business development to ensure they stand on their own.
Lien Bach said the passage of the proposed Community Radio Act will strengthen the legal and operating environments in which free media can prosper as well as benefit the broader media landscape that will eventually contribute to the development of Liberia and its citizens.
Internews has been supporting the Liberian media for nearly ten (10) years through media development programs which is funded by the United States and Swedish governments as well as the European Union delegation.
“Beside the community radio bill that we present today, other significant media law reform initiatives we are supporting include a bill to transform the Liberia Broadcasting System and working with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications on a data privacy bill,” she said.
“We anticipate submitting these soon for discussion in this House. We hope you will support these necessary media reforms, which will benefit the broader media landscape and ultimately contribute to the development of Liberia and its citizens.”