Liberia

Liberia’s media have been at the heart of the country’s turbulent politics since the early 19th century. Politicians of all parties have used their ownership of newspapers or radio stations to further their cause, influence elections, and exert other forms of economic and social influence. As a consequence, journalistic integrity has often been in short supply. Journalists are poorly paid and routinely subject to bribe attempts. As well, at various periods in Liberia’s history, reporters have been subjected to violence and intimidation perpetrated by both government and rebel groups, particularly during the civil conflict of the 1990s. Nevertheless, considering the country’s relatively small population of 4.8 million, according to 2018 figures from the United Nations Population Division, there are a surprisingly large number of media ...