Journalism in Liberia

Years of civil war left Liberia's broadcasters and publishers with the task of repairing damage caused by fighting and looting and the need to find resources to pay staff. The state-run broadcaster has no television service and operates a single radio service. The station does not have national coverage. Many private radio stations were shut down by former president Charles Taylor, leaving the airwaves dominated by stations run by Mr. Taylor's Liberian Communication Network. Liberia’'s state television station, ELTV, which was off the air for most of the civil war, has resumed broadcasting as a largely commercial station. International radio stations, especially the UK’s BBC World Service and the US’s Voice of America, are widely listened to. There are numerous independent newspapers, and press freedom has greatly improved since the end of the Taylor regime, however, in the Freedom of the Press' 2007 study, it ranked Liberia 144th of 195 in terms of freedom of the press, so it still has a long way to go.

The Press

    * The Inquirer
    * Daily Observer
    * The News
    * The Analyst
    * The Heritage
    * Poll Watch

Television

    * Clar TV
    * Power TV
    * Real TV

Radio

    * ELBC - state-run, operated by Liberian Broadcasting System
    * Star Radio - FM and shortwave station, operated in partnership with Swiss-based Hirondelle Foundation
    * UNMIL Radio - operated by United Nations mission
    * Kiss FM - private Monrovia station
    * Radio Veritas - Catholic station
    * ELWA - Christian station
    * Sky FM - private Monrovia station

News agency

    * Liberian News Agency

Source: BBC, Country Profile: Liberia, ; Freedom House, Freedom of the Press, 2007: Liberia, Economist Intelligence Unit, Country Profile 2007: Liberia

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