Published: October 19, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberian journalism students will soon learn investigative reporting from a manual written around their own country’s laws, institutions and public accountability problems. Heads of the country’s mass communication departments endorsed the draft text on Oct. 16 and committed to adding it to their curricula once it is finalized.
By Blamo N. Toe
The Liberia Context-Specific Investigative Journalism Training Manual was developed with technical and financial support from Internews Europe, now trading as Informed, under the European Union-funded Liberia Media Empowerment Project. Participants at a review and validation workshop at Informed’s Broad Street office in Monrovia signed a declaration backing its adoption, subject to their recommended revisions.
“This is a very good initiative because we do not have any book on investigative journalism in Liberia. This Manual will go a long way with us,” said Valentine Samuel, chairperson of the Department of Mass Communication at the African Methodist Episcopal University.
Students and reporters have had access to general textbooks and theory on investigative reporting, but no dedicated guide grounded in Liberia’s governance systems and social realities. The manual’s 16 modules cover the country’s journalism history, investigative techniques, public corruption, procurement and concession agreements, infrastructure projects, international development funding, education, health, gender, elections, human rights, access to justice and human trafficking.
It also gives practical guidance on examining national budgets, tracking government spending, reading audit reports, investigating public contracts, verifying evidence, conducting interviews and protecting confidential sources.
The manual stresses moving beyond allegations to establish facts through documents and independent verification, and giving people and institutions accused of wrongdoing a chance to respond before publication. It also addresses artificial intelligence, saying AI-generated information must be independently verified before it is published.
The University of Liberia, the African Methodist Episcopal University, United Methodist University, the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding developed the manual together. Titus W. Tokpah Sr., executive director of the Peter Quaqua School of Journalism and the project’s lead consultant, facilitated the validation.
David Dahn, chairperson of United Methodist University’s Department of Mass Communication, said the draft still needs work.
“I find this process to be absolutely good. This work in its current imperfect state can be enhanced to be a very useful tool to Investigative Journalism in Liberia,” Dahn said.
Bobby Tingban, executive director of the Jonathan Payelayleh School of Journalism, said his school plans to start using content from the manual.
“I find the material to be very practical unlike the theories we teach in the classroom. I commend Internews for this initiative,” Tingban said.
He said he hopes the manual will be taught across Liberia’s journalism schools so that training is consistent from one institution to the next.
“When a student of PQSJ visits students at the Jonathan Payelayleh School of Journalism, lessons relative to investigative journalism should be the same,” he said.
Samuka V. Konneh, Internews’ country team lead, said the workshop’s input would shape the final text.
“All of the recommendations are being documented and will be included into the final draft of the document,” Konneh said. “On behalf of Internews and our donor, the EU, we want to say thank you for your dedication and the collaboration.”
The manual is part of wider support for journalism education as the 36-month project nears its end in December. Internews is setting up a broadcast simulation studio at United Methodist University and providing Starlink internet to mass communication departments at the University of Liberia and the African Methodist Episcopal University. The four original partner schools are also receiving laptops, digital voice recorders, smartphones, printers and other equipment.
J.W. Harris University, Smythe Institute and the Jonathan Payelayleh School of Journalism have since joined the effort, bringing the number of participating schools to seven. Each of the seven has a student team receiving a grant to produce an investigative story, putting the manual’s lessons into practice.
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