Media and Elections – Strengthening Media and Electoral Integrity – Phase II

The second phase of the BRIDGE Modular Workshop on Media and Elections was held from 17 to 19 June 2026 in Buchana City, Grand Bassa County. It brought together representatives from the National Elections Commission of Liberia, the Press Union of Liberia, the Association of Female Journalists in Liberia and the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, as well as journalists from the local communities.

The workshop was supported by the United Nations Development Programme / Liberia Electoral Support Project (UNDP/LESP) through funding from the European Union (EU). It aimed to strengthen electoral integrity in response to the growing challenges of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and digital manipulation within an increasingly complex information environment.

The training was facilitated by BRIDGE-accredited facilitators Anthony Kawala Sengbe and James Wallace, with additional support from two media professionals, Titus Tokpah and Mambu James Kpargoi, who facilitated the review of the NEC draft Communications Strategy, Policy, and Protocol.

Key outcomes included an improved understanding of electoral processes across the electoral cycle, media ethics, and election reporting standards. Participants were introduced to the concept of electoral media literacy in electoral democracy, enhancing their ability to critically assess news production and identify mis/disinformation, manipulated content, and AI-generated false narratives. The workshop also strengthened knowledge of social listening tools and community feedback mechanisms for detecting early warning signs of electoral tension, particularly through community radio stations and local correspondents.

The concept of responsible amplification was reinforced, encouraging journalists to consider the broader social impact of how information is reported and shared during elections. The engagement further strengthened trust and collaboration between the National Elections Commission of Liberia and media practitioners, improving transparency, access to electoral information, and responsiveness to media concerns.

The National Elections Commission of Liberia expressed appreciation to the BRIDGE Secretariat, UNDP/LESP, the European Union, and all participating organizations and media professionals for their contributions to the successful implementation of the Phase II workshop in Buchana City, Grand Bassa County.