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Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)CountryLiberia RegionAfrica Programme SummaryThe Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP) is an organisation that aims to foster peacebuilding, freedom of expression, democracy, and development - in large part by increasing the space for participatory governance of the media in peace building and development in Liberia. CEMESP provides training and research for the media, and works to provide information to members of this profession through a website that contains information relevant to the media and their role in building a peaceful society. Core goals include:
Communication StrategiesCEMESP draws on the use of both the internet and face-to-face connections to reach out to media personnel in order to serve as "a motivational force for making media and peace building relevant anchors for the development of Liberia." For example, the project website offers a documentation centre which is designed to be a one-stop destination for information about media and peacebuilding activities in (and related to) Liberia. Visitors to the site may access information about various sectors of the media, practitioners and their areas of competence, media organisations, media laws, and issues generally related to freedom of expression. To cite one example, the centre provides information on peacebuilding activists, activities, and institutions in Liberia. Daily headlines from Liberia and elsewhere are offered, and visitors may connect to relevant websites and media development/peacebuilding portals. In addition, CEMESP supports the institutional development of the media (both traditional and modern) in the area of peacebuilding and conflict resolution mechanisms. The centre has conducted training for journalists, traditional communicators, and local leaders in the area of peacebuilding and development since 2000. Here are a few examples:
CEMESP also conducts research into media and peace-related issues. For example, following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Liberia in Accra, Ghana (August 2003), CEMESP undertook a survey to gauge the public perception of the participation of the Liberia media in the implementation of the peace accord. In addition, in its role as a member of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), CEMESP has been involved in documenting and reporting on attacks on freedom of expression in Liberia. As a result of this process, in January 2008, CEMESP released a publication titled "The Perennial Tragedy of Democracy in Liberia: Attacks on Freedom of Expression 2006-2007". Development IssuesDemocracy and Governance, Conflict, Human Rights. Key PointsCEMESP was founded in March 2000 by a group of Liberian journalists interested in sustaining peace, democracy, human rights, free expression, and development in that country. "The culture of silence perpetrated by the long years of misrule in Liberia has weakened the Liberian media's drive to improve their technologies. At the same time, tough media rules restricted attempts by the media to go online, limiting their audience coverage to only Liberia and mainly Monrovia, the country's capital." ContactCenter For Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)
Fofana Building, Benson Street
Monrovia
Liberia
Tel: 231 6 14357
Malcolm W. Joseph
Executive Director
Center For Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)
Fofana Building, Benson Street
Monrovia
Liberia
Tel: 231 6 14357
Calixte S. Hessou
Program Associate
Center For Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP)
Fofana Building, Benson Street
Monrovia
Liberia
Tel: 231 6 14357
SourceCEMESP website on July 20 2006 and April 22 2008; and email from Malcolm W. Joseph to The Communication Initiative on August 5 2008. Placed on the Communication Initiative site July 20 2006 Last Updated August 05 2008 |
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