Lofa County – After more than two decades in mainstream journalism, I am formally announcing my departure from active broadcasting and frontline media work.
My career began in 2003–2004 at age 14 as a child broadcaster at ELBC under the mentorship of Mr. Chris Wolo. While in eighth grade at Martin Luther King High School, I helped establish the school’s first Press Club with the support of administrators Mr. Enoch Fallah Harlie, Jerry J. Carr, Theodore Hodge, and Jerome LM Kollie Jr. I remain inspired by senior student Charles Gborlie, whose leadership helped sustain the club and shaped his successful journey in journalism and education.
In 2005, after returning to Zorzor, I continued as a child broadcaster at Radio Life 92.5 MHz under mentors including Tiger Quaqua, Miller Dayidi Dukuly, Dequemine Tabolo, Ambassador Zarballee K. Woiwor, Madam Kebeh Woi, and the late Exodus Smith. Radio Life not only developed my professional skills but also connected me to life-changing support, including from Chief Moses Y. Kollie, who helped me complete high school and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Over the years at Radio Life, I served in multiple roles—from child broadcaster to senior reporter, head of outside broadcast, and trainer—while engaging in advocacy to advance the station’s growth. These experiences allowed me to interact with national leaders and contribute meaningfully to public discourse.
In 2015, motivated to expand opportunities for rural youth, we established Alternative Youth Radio (AYR), which went on air in 2016. Starting with limited resources, AYR has grown into a community-focused media platform promoting youth development, training, and innovation. To date, it has trained and mentored over 150 young people. I am deeply grateful to the Kalifallah Dulley Community, partners, and youth who brought this vision to life.
To strengthen my impact, I pursued further education and service, earning a Master of Public Administration from Cuttington University in 2022, participating in the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship, and serving as a communications consultant for public institutions between 2017 and 2023. These experiences broadened my perspective beyond the newsroom, highlighting the importance of sustainable systems and leadership.
As announced last year, I have now fully exited mainstream media. My future engagement will focus on consultancy and strategic support in media development and innovation. I will no longer serve as a host or reporter. Alternative Youth Radio is now under the leadership of Ambassador Junior B. Kesselee and the Board of Directors, chaired by Dr. Kokulo Waiwaiku, with a formal turnover ceremony planned.
I am profoundly grateful to the mentors, colleagues, leaders, partners, and friends who have guided and supported me along this journey. I also thank institutional partners, including New Narratives, NAYMOTE-Liberia, and Internews USAID, and I ask for continued support for AYR under its current leadership.
I leave mainstream journalism with gratitude, humility, and confidence in the next generation of journalists who will carry this work forward.
