LMC Ends JHR Varsity Chapter Workshop

...Executive Director Challenges Participants

Monrovia (LMC/PR)-Dec/2/'11:-The Liberia Media Center (LMC) on Friday ended a six-day workshop of members of the student chapter of the Journalists for Human Rights (JHR).

The workshop, conducted under the auspices of the JHR Unit of the LMC, was spread on three months. Participants were drilled in basic journalism and news writing, reporting human rights issues, national and international human rights frameworks including laws and conventions amongst others.

Twenty-two participants attended the workshop and were certificated by the Executive Director of the LMC, T. Lawrence Randall. They drawn from three universities, including the United Methodist University (UMU), the University of Liberia (UL) and the African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU).

Executive Director Randall, addressing the closing of the workshop, challenged participants to take seriously the knowledge the acquired.

According to him, the participating student journalists should understand that one does not become a journalist overnight. He said a journalist is made from the passion s/he exhibits in upholding ethical values.

To this effect, he reminded them that journalists are people interested in reading. “You can't be a journalist if you cannot read. If you can't read, go sell your water because to be a good journalist, you have to be interested in reading materials.”

He therefore implored the participants to visit the Liberia Media Center's internet center, which he added, is available to journalists seeking to track local and global events.

The LMC boss also challenged the participants to take advantage of the social networks in their reportage of human rights issues. he said, “We will need you at the LMC in the future inasmuch as you remain to pursue excellence in the practice of the journalism profession.

Also speaking, the President of the Student Chapter of the JHR Network, Mr. Kolobah Akoi of the University of Liberia, praised the Liberia Media Center for the level of support it gives the group.

Contingent on said support, he noted the JHR Student Chapter has been undertaking marches in support of human dignity and the right to vote.

He then said a Right Night was being planned in commemoration of the International Day of Human Rights, extending invitation to the executive director of the LMC.

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