The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) is set to roll out an anti-corruption & Investigative reporting mentoring program as part of its National Integrity Building and Anti-Corruption (NIBA) Program funded by the Government and People of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The program has gotten underway with the launch of the recruitment exercise for potential and interested journalists.
The anti-corruption & integrity-related investigative reporting program seeks to empower journalists to investigate and independently report on corruption and integrity-related issues in Liberia. The program aims to build a network of journalists from diverse backgrounds to actively be involved with relevant project activities as part of broader partnership and collaboration with the media in consolidating efforts against corruption in the country.
Under its National Integrity Building and Anti- Corruption (NIBA) Program, CENTAL intends to establish a network of at least twenty (20) members to be drawn from the print and electronic media including community radios.
The program will rotationally provide a minimum financial support (mini-grant) to the network members to enable them independently investigate and report on corruption related issues, especially in the seven project targeted counties – Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa and Rivercess.
Annually, each of the journalists will be required to produce a minimum of three (3) investigative reports/stories, except for the inception phase which requires a minimum of two (2) stories per reporter. The stories will cover longstanding and trending issues targeting key sectors identified and selected based on their vulnerability to corruption, especially the extent to which citizens’ access to public services and decision-making have been consistently undermined by corruption in the country – including education, energy, construction/road, health and land.
The program is open to all who are working as journalists working with various media institutions in and around Monrovia as well as Community Radio Stations across Liberia with solid experience reporting on social issues and must be skilled in one of the following areas: broadcast journalism; digital/print journalism; photojournalism; social media; video editing; fluency in English and should be based/working in Liberia and passionate about reporting corruption and integrity related issues.
Applicants are also encouraged to complete a bio-data form along with a 600-worded motivational essay to explain why the applicant wants to participate in the program and how it would strengthen their journalistic skills and media organizations; a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s supervisor as well as one work sample to show the applicant’s knack for investigative reporting. Applications can be sent through email to: szota@cental.org.lr and the deadline for submitting applications is Thursday, January 28, 2021.
CENTAL is a civil society organization and national chapter of Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption with chapters and networks in more than 120 countries worldwide. Since 2004, the organization has led and sustained active civil society engagement with integrity building and anti-corruption efforts in Liberia. CENTAL’s work focuses on governance, with emphasis on transparency, accountability, and fighting against corruption. This allows us to work on issues related to Education, Land, Mining, Rule of Law, Public Finance, etc.