Executive Producer Kojo Mensah with Augusta Pshorr
Photo: UNMIL

UNMIL Radio commenced broadcasting on the 1 October 2003, the first day of the mission, from a broadcast van, originally sited at Spriggs Payne. An emergency studio facility supplied from Brindisi for the start-up of the mission became the stations' home in December. This is located along with all other facilities at the UNMIL Force Headquarters.

The station has grown tremendously over its short life span and from an initial Monrovia only coverage, it now has transmitter sites at Gbarnga, Harper, Sanniquellie, Ganta, Voinjama, Zwedru and Monrovia. A new site is to be located shortly in Zorzor.

The major Sector Command transmitter sites in Gbarnga, Zwedru and Monrovia are currently in the course of a phased upgrade, and once completed, should allow total coverage of Liberia.

The estimated coverage in terms of population is at two-thirds, mainly due to the population densities being dictated by IDP movement during the height of the violence in Liberia.

Programmes

UNMIL Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day, and has done so since January 2004, offering a total of 48 programmes in different formats covering; children and young person's issues, both the civilian and military aspects of the work of the mission, humanitarian activities, current affairs, human rights, repatriation, reconciliation, health (including HIV/AIDS), Rule of Law, security, women's issues, journalism, civic education, DDRR, among others.

It broadcasts 12 daily news bulletins, in both English and Special English, and is soon to start additional news broadcast in local languages. In the coming months it is planned to increase and re-direct programming to deal with the Elections, to be held in October, and this will consist mainly of education on Electoral Law, Voter Registration, Civic Education on Roles, Rights and Responsiblities, among others.

Tool for Peace

The station has been called upon to be a voice of reason for the mission in times of crisis and also a voice for peaceful discourse. An effective tool to correct misconceptions among the local population, the station has played a key role in diffusing rumour and tension during the Nimba disturbances early on in the mission, demonstrations and violence which have sporadically occurred in Monrovia and elsewhere. Its ability to provide almost immediate, real time factual information has meant that Liberians have been kept informed at critical times, and additionally the National Government has been able to use this medium to get its own messages out quickly and to the largest number of people.

Setting records

UNMIL Radio is the first radio station in Liberia to broadcast from Monrovia to any part of the country, the first radio station to broadcast live events from places such as Voinjama, the first UN Radio facility to broadcast live to the nation and the first radio station in Liberia's history to provide a 24-hour service.

The station has gained a reputation for innovative programme concepts and creativity in its packaging of the peace message, as well as respect for its news content as a result of its policy to follow the principles of fair, accurate and balanced reporting.

Over the period of its existence, the station has created in-house over 150 jingles, public service announcements and drama to address various issues including DDRR, mob violence, TSA payments, child rights, and HIV/AIDS, and currently collaborates in some of its programmes, with UNHCR, LRRRC, the mission military, the Ministries of Health, Gender, and Information as well as some civil society organizations. It has also been proactive in supporting other interested radio stations by allowing re-broadcast of several of its programmes.

UNMIL Radio hopes to also be able to continue its support to children, and the need to give them a voice by creating more programmes just for them, and supporting events such as the day of the African Child, and the International Day of Children's Broadcast, where it has already been instrumental in organizing mammoth radio events involving up to 400 children in the past.