Mass media in Liberia#Press
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File:Monrovia 3349747776 dbfca1560f.jpg
Mass media in Liberia include the press, radio, television, fixed and mobile telephones, and the Internet.
Much of Liberia's communications infrastructure was destroyed or plundered during the two civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003). With low rates of adult literacy and high poverty rates, television and newspaper use is limited, leaving radio as the predominant means of communicating with the public.[http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-country-overview-quantitative-survey-qualitative-analysis-research "Introduction to Communication and Development in Liberia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307051722/http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-country-overview-quantitative-survey-qualitative-analysis-research |date=2014-03-07 }}, AudienceScapes. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
Even as it struggles with economic and political constraints, Liberia's media environment is expanding. The number of registered newspapers and radio stations (many of them community stations) is on the rise despite limited market potential. And politically critical content and investigative pieces do get published or broadcast.[http://www.audiencescapes.org/media-environment-development-Liberia-quantitative-qualitative-analysis-research "Media Environment and Regulation in Liberia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031431/http://www.audiencescapes.org/media-environment-development-Liberia-quantitative-qualitative-analysis-research |date=2016-03-04 }}, AudienceScapes. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
Press
The main newspapers are:[http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/liberia/liberianews.html "Liberia Newspapers and News on the Internet"], Africa South of the Sahara, Stanford University Libraries. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- The Analyst[http://allafrica.com/stories/200809161188.html "Liberia: LMC Extols Media Institutions"], The NEWS, 16 September 2008, AllAfrica. {{subscription required}}{{cite encyclopedia |url= https://www.britannica.com/place/Liberia/Cultural-life |access-date= 21 August 2017 |encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica |title= Liberia: Media and Publishing}}
- Pumah Times Newspaper
- Daily Observer (est. 1981), private.
- The Daily Talk{{cite news|title=All the News That Fits: Liberia's Blackboard Headlines|author=Lydia Polgreen|date=4 August 2006|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/04/world/africa/04liberia.html?pagewanted=all}}
- FrontPage Africa, private.
- The Inquirer, private daily.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13729507 "Liberia profile"], BBC News, 14 March 2012.
- National Chronicle"Media regulator recommends support for local media coverage of truth commission", BBC Monitoring Africa, 27 June 2008.
- The New Dawn, private daily.
- New Democrat
- New Republic LiberiaAlphonso been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters.
Mr. Toweh holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution. {{subscription required}}
Defunct newspapers and magazines include:{{sfn|Falola|2015}}
- Africa League
- African Nationalist{{cite web |url= https://www.loc.gov/rr/news/bound/frn/frnbnd.html |access-date= 22 August 2017 |title=Liberia |work=19th and 20th Century Foreign Newspapers in Original Format: Inventory |author=Newspaper & Current Periodical Room |publisher=U.S. Library of Congress |location=Washington DC }}
- Africa's Luminary (est. 1839)
- Amulet (est. 1839)
- Daily Listener (est. 1950)
- Footprints Today (est. 1984)
- The Friend
- Independent Weekly
- Journal of Commerce and Industry
- Liberia and West Africa (ceased in 1932)
- Liberia Herald (est. 1826){{cite book|author=D. Elwood Dunn|display-authors=et al |title=Historical Dictionary of Liberia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qt0_RrW8ghkC |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-1-4616-5931-0 |year=2001 |edition=2nd }}
- Liberian Age (est. 1946)
- Liberian Herald
- Liberian News
- Liberian Recorder (est. 1897)
- Liberian Star (est. 1839)
- Monrovia Observer (est. 1878)
- Palm Magazine
- SunTimes
- Weekly Mirror
- Whirlwind
Radio
{{main|List of radio stations in Liberia}}
- Radios: 790,000 radio receivers (1997).{{update after|2014|2|7}}
- Radio stations: 1 state-owned radio station, but no national public service broadcaster;[http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-matrix-radio-stations-community-radio-monrovia-george-weah "Most Used Media Outlets in Liberia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221183937/http://www.audiencescapes.org/country-profiles-liberia-matrix-radio-stations-community-radio-monrovia-george-weah |date=2014-02-21 }}, AudienceScapes. Retrieved 8 February 2014. about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are available (2007).[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/liberia/ "Communications: Liberia"], World Factbook, U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 28 January 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- BBC World Service 103 FM.
- ELBC FM, public.[http://radiostationworld.com/locations/liberia/radio_websites.asp "Liberia: Radio Station Websites"], Radio Station World. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- ELWA FM and SW, private, religious-Christian.
- Pumah FM 106.3
- LUX 106.6 FM, University of Liberia.
- Radio Liberia FM, operated by the state-run Liberian Broadcasting System (LBS).
- Radio Veritas FM and SW, religious-Catholic.
- RFI English FM, the English service of Radio France Internationale.
- Sky FM
- STAR Radio FM and SW, operated in partnership with Swiss-based Hirondelle Foundation.[http://www.mediafrica.net/News_Popup.asp?Id=2442 "Liberia: Press Union names Star Radio as radio station of year"], BBC Monitoring Africa, 30 July 2008.
- Truth FM
- UNMIL Radio FM, operated by the United Nations mission.
- Voice of Firestone Liberia 89.5 FM{{cite news |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201003040833.html |title=Firestone launches radio station 89.5 FM |date=3 March 2010 |work=The Informer |publisher=AllAfrica |access-date=9 March 2010}} {{subscription required}}
Television
- Television sets: 70,000 sets (1997).{{update after|2014|2|7}}
- Pumah TV Channel 4
- Television stations: 4 private TV stations, none with national reach; satellite TV service available (2007).
- Clar TV, private.
- DC TV, private.
- Power TV, private.
- Real TV, private.
- Liberia Broadcasting System: Government owned Liberia National Television (LNTV).
Telephones
File:ComiumBuildingLiberia 2006.jpg
{{See also |Telephone numbers in Liberia}}
- Calling code: +231 https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf
- International call prefix: 00[http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-E.164C-2011-PDF-E.pdf Dialing Procedures (International Prefix, National (Trunk) Prefix and National (Significant) Number) (in Accordance with ITY-T Recommendation E.164 (11/2010))], Annex to ITU Operational Bulletin No. 994-15.XII.2011, International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Geneva), 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- Main lines: 3,200 lines in use, 213th in the world (2011).
- Mobile cellular: 2.4 million lines, 138th in the world (2012).
- Telephone system: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 50 per 100 persons (2011).
- Satellite earth stations: 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010).
- Communications cables: Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable system, links countries along the west coast of Africa to each other and on to Portugal and France.[http://www.ace-submarinecable.com/ace/default/EN/all/ace_fr/ "ACE: Africa Coast to Europe"], Orange SA. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
The fixed line infrastructure of Liberia was nearly completely destroyed during the civil wars (1989-1996 and 1999–2003).{{cite web | url=http://www.ppiaf.org/sites/ppiaf.org/files/publication/PPIAF-Impact-Stories-Reforming-Liberia-Telecom-Sector.pdf | title=PPIAF Supports Telecommunications Reform and Liberalization in Liberia | publisher=Public-Private Infrastructure Facility (PPIAF) | date=July 2011 | access-date=3 September 2011}}
Prior to the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 2007, the state-owned Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LIBTELCO) held a legal monopoly for all fixed line services in Liberia, and remains the sole licensed fixed line telephone service provider in the country.[http://www.libtelco.com.lr/about%20us.html "About Us"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222152700/http://www.libtelco.com.lr/about%20us.html |date=2014-02-22 }}, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
Two licensed GSM cellular mobile service providers operate in the country: Lonestar Cell and CellCom. Approximately 45% of the population has cell phone service.
Internet
- Top-level domain: .lr
- Internet users:
- 317,717 users; 7.3% of the population, 158th in the world (2016 est.).Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 26 June 2013.[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
- 20,000 users, 194th in the world (2009).
- Fixed broadband: 78 subscriptions, 193rd in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 192nd in the world (2012).[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
- Wireless broadband: Unknown (2012).[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.
- Internet hosts: 7 hosts, 228th in the world (2012).
- IPv4: 13,312 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 3.4 addresses per 1000 people (2012).[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], The World Factbook, United States Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.
=Notable commercial websites=
While Liberia's commercial internet sector is still behind the majority of African countries there are still a few classifieds sites:{{citation needed |date=July 2014}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150801230805/http://liberiacommerce.com/ liberiacommerce.com]
=Internet censorship and surveillance=
There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms.[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204136 "Liberia"], Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 25 March 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. Libel and national security laws place some limits on freedom of speech. Individuals can generally criticize the government publicly or privately without reprisal. Some journalists practice self-censorship.
The constitution prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice.
President Sirleaf endorsed and signed the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers' Declaration of Table Mountain in Monrovia on 21 July 2012, committing to the core principles of a free press and calling for the repeal of the criminal defamation and insult laws regularly used against journalists.
See also
- Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, the sole provider of fixed line telephone services in Liberia.
- Cable Consortium of Liberia, a public-private partnership formed in 2010 to own and operate Liberia's cable landing point for the ACE cable system.
- The Liberian Journal, a US-based Liberian online and print news organization covering issues of interest to Liberians in the Diaspora.
- Cinema of Liberia
References
- {{CIA World Factbook |year=2014}}
- {{US DOS |year=2012}}
{{Reflist |30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|author= Frederick Starr|author-link= Frederick Starr|title=Liberia: description, history, problems |location=Chicago |year=1913
|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-7JWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA29
|chapter=Periodicals of Liberia
|pages=29–31
|isbn= 9780598450234}}
- {{cite journal |title=Press in Liberia |author= Henry B. Cole |journal= Liberian Studies Journal |issn=0024-1989 |location=United States |volume=4 |year= 1971
}}
- {{cite journal |author= D.E.S. Kandakai |title= Role of Research in Development Communication at the Liberian Rural Communications Network |journal= Africa Media Review |volume=3 |number=1 |url=http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/ |via=Michigan State University Libraries, African e-Journals Project |year= 1988
}} {{free access}}
- {{cite journal |author=C. William Allen |title= Soaring Above the Cloud of Mediocrity: The Challenges of the Liberian Press in the Nineties |journal= Liberian Studies Journal |issn=0024-1989 |location=United States |volume=15 |year= 1990
}}
- {{cite journal |author= Lamini A. Waritay |title= Problems and Possibilities for the Formulation of a Comprehensive Communication Policy for Liberia |journal= Africa Media Review |volume=4 |number=2 |url=http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/africanjournals/ |via=Michigan State University Libraries, African e-Journals Project |year= 1990
}} {{free access}}
- {{cite journal |author=Momo K. Rogers |title= Liberian Press Under Military Rule |journal= Liberian Studies Journal |issn=0024-1989 |location=United States |volume=21 |year= 1996
}}
- {{cite journal |author=S. S. Deddeh |title= Pushing for Press Freedom in Liberia |journal= Journal of Democracy |volume= 11 |doi= 10.1353/jod.2000.0033 |year= 2000
|issue= 2 |pages= 159–168 |s2cid= 154493794 }}
- {{cite book |title=Africa South of the Sahara 2003 |series=Regional Surveys of the World |publisher= Europa Publications |issn= 0065-3896 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1KBP7QbalX0C |year=2003
|chapter= Liberia: Directory: the Press |page= 586
|isbn=9781857431315 }} (Includes information about broadcast media)
- {{cite book |author= Carl Patrick Burrowes |title=Power And Press Freedom In Liberia, 1830-1970: The Impact Of Globalization And Civil Society On Media-government Relations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FaEs88IpUzEC |publisher=Africa World Press |location=Trenton, NJ, and Asmara, Eritrea |isbn=978-1-59221-294-1 |year=2004
}}
- {{cite book|editor1=Toyin Falola|editor-link=Toyin Falola|editor2=Daniel Jean-Jacques|title=Africa: an Encyclopedia of Culture and Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YjoVCwAAQBAJ|year= 2015 |publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-666-9
|chapter= Liberia: Media
|pages=687+
|ref= {{harvid|Falola|2015}}
}}
- {{citation |url= https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2016/liberia |title= Liberia |work=Freedom of the Press |oclc=57509361 |year=2016 |publisher=Freedom House |location=United States
}}
External links
- [http://psg.com/dns/lr/ Liberia Domain Registration (.lr)]
- {{cite web |url= http://library.stanford.edu/africa-south-sahara/browse-topic/news-country |editor=Karen Fung, African Studies Association |title= News (by country): Liberia |work=Africa South of the Sahara |via=Stanford University |location=United States |quote=Annotated directory }}
- {{cite web |url= https://www.crl.edu/sites/default/files/d6/attachments/pages/CAMP%20Newspaper%20list%202012.pdf |title=Newspapers Held in Microform: Liberia |work= Cooperative Africana Materials Project |publisher= Center for Research Libraries |location=United States |year=2012 }}
{{Clear}}
{{Liberia topics}}
{{Africa in topic|Communications in}}
{{Africa topic|Media of}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Communications In Liberia}}