From the Court Chamber to the Court of Public Opinion – facilitating local media coverage of the trial of Charles Taylor
The BBC World Service Trust (BBCWST) is implementing a two-pronged project. It is developing, deploying and supporting a team of Liberian and Sierra Leonean reporters to cover the court proceedings from The Hague, as it works with media outlets across Liberia and Sierra Leone to develop and produce their own locally-appropriate programming.
Since the trial’s debut in June 2007, each team has filed daily correspondence-style reports from the court chambers to partner radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Off the back of these reports, project staff in country have worked to produce a weekly 30-minute radio programme for broadcast throughout the two countries. Team members have also provided sustained on-the-job training and mentoring (backed up by equipment donations) to more than 30 radio stations. Furthermore, these stations, and others in the project’s distribution network, produce their own programming around key transitional justice and development issues arising from the case, primarily in the area of civic education.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (November 3 - 7, 2008)
Presiding Judge Teresa Doherty announced on Friday that one of Charles Taylor’s top Lawyers has temporarily withdrawn from the case.
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (October 27 - 31, 2008)
Sierra Leonan witnesses brought to The Hague continue to tell horrifying tales of their war experiences. Liberian journalist Joseph Cheeseman reports
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (October 20 - 24, 2008)
October 24,2008 - Prosecution announces that former Liberian President Charles Taylor can testify in his case if he wishes to. Mariama Fornah reports
The Hague: Interview with Sierra Leone Special Court Prosecutor
October 22, 2008 - Interview with Stephen Rapp the chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (October 13 - 17, 2008)
The Presiding Judge of the Special Court for Sierra Leone returned to court on Thursday afternoon after staying away for more than three days
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (October 6 - 9, 2008)
On the first day of the resumption of the trial of Charles Taylor after the court’s Mid Summer break, Mr Taylor boycotted the proceedings