Press Union of Liberia

Press Union of Liberia was founded in 1964.

From 1994 to 2005 the Press Union of Liberia has received direct grants (totalling US$326,00) from the NED. In 1991 they also received two indirect grants channeled via the African American Institute.

"The PUL has strong relationship with local and international organizations. These institutions include the International Media Support (IMS) Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), West African Journalists Association (WAJA), Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (JPC-Liberia), Carter Center (CC), International Alert (IA-UK), Center for Democratic Empowerment (CEDE), the Civil Rights Association of Liberian Lawyers (CRALL), Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Article 19, IFEX, Media Rights Agenda, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Panos Institute of West Africa, among others." 

"The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has donated a printing machine and 75 KVA generator to the Press Union of Liberia and the Publishers Association. The machine is being used for the establishment of a Free Press Project.

"The Free Press Project is intended to reduce the high cost of printing newspapers in Liberia, thereby providing financial security and employment for Liberian journalists and enhancing the dissemination of information by making newspapers more affordable to members of the public. Since then there has been efforts to get the press operational. Following a long struggle with the Charles Taylor Administration the press was registered under the name: The Liberia Printing Incorporated.

"But it has been difficult to get the press started. Following the departure of Mr. Taylor from Liberia in 2003, the United States Agency for International Development, USAID turned over to the Press Union of Liberia and the Publishers Association after a business plan had been developed in collaboration with Mercy Corps.

"The Union later secured funding from Global Fund to do an assessment on the press and established that it was still in a perfect state, except that there were problems with the camera.

"The seed capital to jump-start the press had been the main reason holding back the operation of the press. Over the years while efforts were being made to start the press, its rent arrears accumulated to $18,000(eighteen thousand United States dollars).After negotiation with the owner of the premises where the press was being kept, the PUL paid $2000(two thousand US dollars) and secured an agreement with the landlady on Newport Street in Monrovia for the press to be relocated as she requested.

"Presently, the press is being kept on the compound of the Catholic Church run Radio Veritas in Mamba Point while additional contacts are being made to see the possibility of salvaging the press."

Member of the Africa Democracy Forum.

Contact

 * Web: http://www.pressunionlib.org

Related Sourcewatch articles

 * Radio Bomi has received aid from the NDI.
 * Search for Common Ground "operates Talking Drum Studio, which produces 30 hours a week of programming in Liberia. SFCG also has a Media Against Conflict project."
 * "The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas is based in Boston. It represents Liberian journalists in exile and is headed by Isaac Bantu, a courageous former BBC reporter."
 * "Supporting the Media in Liberia", 2004.
 * Liberian Women Media Action Committee
 * John Oliver Kollie
 * Gabriel I. H. Williams - Member of Executive Committee for 6 years
 * Swah Dedeh - President (2001)