Final report to the Office of Transition Initiatives-USAID for Talking Drum Studio in Monrovia, Liberia

CGP is the television and radio production unit of the European Centre for Common Ground (ECGG) and Search for Common Ground (ECG). Since its inception in March 1997, TDS has established a 90% listenership and 75% content recognition rate among Liberians in and around Monrovia. TDS has also inspired local broadcasters and newspapers to form Media Against Conflict, a project to jointly use the media to help resolve conflicts and address challenging national issues. CGP, through TDS, is also pioneering the development of impact evaluation and research- based programming methods for media in war zones. Evaluation studies have documented TDS"s direct resolution of conflicts and prevention of further violence. In acknowledgement of contributions to the people of Liberia, it was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2nd Annual ECHO (European Community Humanitarian Office) Television and Radio Awards in the category of "Humanity in the Midst of War." (First prize went to CGP"s Studio Ijambo in Burundi, the initial inspiration for TDS.) TDS has also received numerous awards, certificates, and letters of appreciation from organizations and government officials in Liberia. TDS"s success comes from a staff of over 30 Liberian nationals and one U.S. expatriate responsible for the production of broadcast materials that receive more than 30 hours per week of airtime on Liberian and international radio stations. Currently, TDS programs play on seven stations broadcasting from Monrovia in FM. Three of the stations also transmit in the short-wave band and provide broad coverage for TDS programs. The BBC also plays TDS news features on its Africa Service program, Network Africa. TDS has introduced an entirely new concept to a war- weary Liberia: a production studio as a partner for building peace. By working with and supporting local radio stations and newspapers, TDS gained trust and respect among Liberians in its first year, while also building the capacity of local broadcasters. Through this strategy, TDS has become well known in Liberia for providing interesting and entertaining news, feature, and drama programming geared specifically for Liberians. In particular, the production of radio dramas and their live performance has become a specialty of the studio. The dramas are used as vehicles for illustrating social and public problems with a view to finding solutions to them. In 1998, TDS expanded its range of programs and outreach to include a greater focus on rural issues, a serial drama, and a special series on women and on children"s issues. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees co-sponsored "Coming Home", a series dedicated to addressing refugee issues through a common ground approach. The success of this series led other international agencies to approach TDS for similar collaborations. In essence, TDS is becoming a consistent and stabilizing theme throughout Liberia"s rebuilding process. International and national NGOs are also becoming more effective in addressing the needs of Liberians through TDS"s programs and high audience appeal. These collaborations represent the beginning of a demand-driven sustainable model for TDS with a substantial portion of its operating costs covered for 1999. (Author abstract)