Western Liberia Media Workshop Elevates Gender-Sensitive Reporting

By: Henry B. Gboluma, Jr. I Gbarpolu Correspondent

‎Tubmanburg City, Bomi County—Friday, December 5, 2025 —The Grand Cape Mount Women Network, with funding from the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) through UN Women Liberia, completed a two-day media engagement workshop on Thursday, December 4, 2025, aimed at enhancing gender-sensitive reporting across Western Liberia.

‎The training is part of a 20-project initiative that began in October 2025, titled “Increasing Participation & Awareness to End SGBV,” funded by the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund through UN Women at $125,000 USD.

‎The session brought together 10 journalists and media practitioners from Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, and Gbarpolu Counties, creating a shared platform to strengthen professional skills in reporting on issues affecting women and girls.

‎This initiative comes at a time when the media’s role is increasingly recognized as central to shaping public perceptions, promoting gender equality, and fostering peaceful and inclusive communities across the country.

‎During the interactive sessions, facilitators including the lead Media Trainer from the Female Journalists Association of Liberia, Madam Vivian Aletha Cooke, stressed the importance of accurate, ethical, and balanced reporting on gender, peacebuilding, and humanitarian issues.

‎Participants discussed key topics such as gender stereotypes, women’s representation in the media, conflict-sensitive communication, and the journalist’s role in preventing the spread of harmful narratives during crises.

‎According to Moore Kiadii, Program Officer of the organization, the engagement forms part of broader efforts to empower local journalists to amplify women’s voices, particularly those of grassroots women who play vital roles in community development, peacebuilding, and humanitarian response, yet remain underrepresented in mainstream reporting.

‎Kiadii noted that strengthening the capacity of local media practitioners will significantly improve the quality of media coverage on gender-related issues, promote accountability, and reinforce Liberia’s peacebuilding gains.

‎The two-day workshop, which began on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, concluded with a call for sustained collaboration between the media, women-led organizations, and development partners to ensure that women’s stories and experiences continue to influence national dialogue.

‎Media participants welcomed the training, noting that it provided practical tools to improve story framing, diversify sources, and ensure reporting that supports social cohesion. They also expressed their commitment to applying gender-sensitive approaches in their newsrooms and community outreach programs.