The two of us
Gerry Adams and her taperecorder arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, in April 1997, on loan to UNOMIL from DPI's Radio Service in New York. "I'm glad I took that machine", says Adams. "Good equipment was hard to come by." Her coproducer, the well known Liberian journalist Steve Makundu, had his own recorder as well. The two of them put together what became UNOMIL Magazine, the programme of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia.

The approach they took was low-key. "There was clearly a need to get information about the peace process to Liberians", remarks DPI's Senior Radio Programme Coordinator, Ransford Cline-Thomas, whose earlier assessment visit had helped determine how UNOMIL radio could contribute to the effort. "At the same time, we wanted to take account of the Liberians' desire for capacity building. It made sense to work within the existing local broadcasting structure." It was also practical, given UNOMIL's limited resources and mandate, together with Liberia's devastated infrastructure.

Doing the programmes was the least of the problems for Adams and Makundu. Getting them on the air, however, was a bit more complicated. That required footwork, diplomacy and an introduction. With a letter from UNOMIL's information chief, Brian Kelly, Adams and Makundu made the rounds of Monrovia's working radio stations. They eventually succeeded in getting an hour per week from all of them (eight at the time) free of charge. The two biggest stations also agreed to simulcast on short wave, thereby covering most of the country. As for production, UNOMIL rented time at a local studio. There would be two 15-minute programmes per week, and each programme would be played twice. The whole series, from June to August, consisted of 20 programmes.

UNOMIL Magazine focused on who was doing what to further the peace process and prepare the elections -- UNOMIL, ECOWAS, other international actors and Liberians themselves. It also included news of UN Agencies and NGOs. The basic format was the interview. "I think I spoke to everyone in Liberia", recalls Adams, "the Head of the Council of State, the SRSG, the Head of the Elections Commission, to refugees, footballers, soldiers, abused women. Everyone who would talk to me."

Talkin' Peace
A cartoon character called "Peaceman" also played a big role in UNOMIL Magazine's lineup. Peaceman was the brainchild of Brian Kelly and Liberian artist Wantue Major and eventually became the mission's unofficial "spoketoon". Kelly describes Peaceman as a savvy villager, always ready to pass on the latest news to everyone he meets. "Talkin' Peace" was an immediate hit when UNOMIL began distribution of Peaceman leaflets. To dramatize the strip for UNOMIL Magazine, Adams contacted local theatre groups. "The actors were very committed to this project", recalls Adams, "especially since Peaceman was giving out such vital information, like how to register to vote and how the vote would be secret. He was a good educational tool, and the audience seemed to love him."

Helping to ensure that UNOMIL's message reached Liberian ears, UNDP and Search for Common Ground provided some 5,500 radio sets to key groups around the country. The groups were then encouraged to form "listening circles" to reach as many people as possible. The sets were particularly well adapted to requirements in Liberia. First, they were wind-ups, good for some 6,600 hours of self-generated power, and therefore solved the battery problem. Second, they were good for use in the hinterland, since, in addition to FM, they also picked up short wave.

Even with its late start and limited scope, UNOMIL Magazine seems to have made a significant impact. According to former SRSG in Liberia Tuliameni Kalomoh, people perceived the programme as an impartial and objective voice which they could trust. "More than that", he says, "it reassured Liberians that the UN had confidence in the process. And so people got out to vote, and knew that their ballot would be secret."