Monrovia – It was a scene of joy and excitement for young men and women over the weekend at the Sinkor Assembly of God Church on Tubman Boulevard at programs marking the 3rd commencement convocation of the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism (PQSJ).
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com
At the event, 68 media trainees received diploma following a nine-month intensive hands-on journalism training.
The journalism school is owned and managed by MediaAid Foundation (MAF) and named in honor of Peter Quaqua, a renowned Liberian Journalist who currently serves as President of the West African Journalist Association (WAJA).
Serving as keynote speaker, the Public Affairs Officer of the United States Embassy near Monrovia, Paul Hinshaw noted that journalism plays a major role in society and admonished the graduates to make objectivity, truth-telling, and unbiased reporting the hallmark of their career.
Hinshaw: “Journalism is a profession that is driven by passion, and is made professional by objectivity, truth-telling, unbiased reporting, accuracy, balance and clarity.”
“Graduates, as you begin your career, I urge you to be professional in all aspects and live up to the public trust that has been placed in you as the result of your career you have chosen. Your credibility as a journalist is your most valuable assets and you must jealously guard it.”
Titus Tokpah, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MediaAid Foundation, said that since the establishment of the school in 2016, it has graduated 137 people including the recent batch of 68 graduates.
Tokpah noted that the growth in the numbers of graduates from 24 (first batch of graduates) to 45 (second batch) and now 68 points to the challenges and successes of the training program and added that within the next five years, part of MAF’s mission is to erect the school’s building and raise the standard of its diplomat program to Associate degree.
He further said that the ground-breaking exercise of a modern media complex at Mount Barclay inclusive of a mini radio station, laboratory and an elementary school has already taken place and construction work is expected to start soon.
He thanked the United State Government through its Embassy accredited near Monrovia for providing training for both teachers and students of the PQSJ in advanced media courses.
Tokpah: “The growth in the numbers of graduates from 24 to 45and now 68 points to the challenges and successes of this training program. The success of this training program would not have come without the grace of God. Currently, we have 105 trainees in the ongoing training quarters. The PQSJ runs a sustained ten-week training quarter with at least four training quarters every year. As part of effort to increase student learning at the school, the United States Government through its Embassy near Monrovia is involved with training our teachers and students every year in several advanced media courses.”
Earlier on at the Awards ceremony, the school was officially named in honor of Peter Quaqua, President of the West African Journalists Association (WAJA) in recognition of his services and contributions towards the media landscape in Liberia and sub-region.
For his part, the dux of the graduating class, Darric Dennis called for media reform in Liberia and highlighted the Liberia Broadcasting System’s lack of independence.