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 (September 29 - 30, 2008)
Mass killing, burning of houses and the destruction of property by the Kamajors was the focus of the defence cross-examination in The Hague
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (September 22 - 26, 2008)
A Former Correspondent of RFI and Reuters who covered both Liberian and Sierra Leonean civil wars has taken the stand in The Hague
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (September 15 - 19, 2008)
Another senior member of the defunct Sierra Leonean Rebel Group, RUF, takes the stand in The Hague. Joseph Cheeseman reports.
The Hague: Interview with Courtenay Griffiths the lead counsel for Charles Taylor
September 12, 2008 - Interview with the Lead Counsel for former president of Liberia Charles Taylor Courtenay Griffiths QC from The Hague
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (September 8 - 12, 2008)
The war crimes trial of Charles Taylor entered its fourth week after the summer break. BBC WST reporter Mariama K. Fornah reports from The Hague
Charles Taylor trial weekly summaries (September 1 - 5, 2008)
The war crimes trial of Charles Taylor entered its third week after the summer break. Joseph Cheeseman reports from the Hague