Liberian journalist Josephus Moses-Gray single-handedly managed to secure a grant of over US$50,000 from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) to distribute to fellow media practitioners in the aftermath of civil war and the restrictive regime of Charles Taylor. A total of 131 Liberian journalists, editors and publishers received US$400 each, to help them get back on their feet in the post-Taylor media industry.

RAP 21 spoke to Gray, a former foreign news editor at the "Inquirer".

RAP 21: How did you come up with the idea of trying to secure a grant for Liberian journalists?

Josephus Moses-Gray: I came up with the idea during a rebel attack on Monrovia in the summer months of 2003. The attack on the capital affected all sectors of the city, including media practitioners. My colleagues’ situation was very bad and desperate but no one was prepared to provide them with assistance. I was moved and initiated the project, despite threats from Taylor’s men who said I was turning the international community against Charles Taylor’s regime.

RAP 21: How did you develop the project in practice?

Josephus Moses-Gray: I took one night to prepare the project since the situation of my colleagues was very grave and needed quick attention for assistance. Because the security forces were monitoring my every move, I wrote the plan at night, in the early hours of the morning. After I handed it to the donor, I destroyed my copy so Taylor’s men wouldn’t find it on me. At that stage, journalists were targets of the Taylor regime. I was even attacked by some of my colleagues who were working with an outlet controlled by Taylor, on grounds that I was not working in the interest of the regime at that time. My wife was afraid that if such a project were found on me, Taylor’s men would harm me. She prayed over the project and admonished me to be careful what Internet cafe I used when working on the project.

It took less then a month for the project to be passed and accepted by the donor. I was always on the phone and sending e-mail messages about the project. Because of the fighting in Monrovia at that time, it was the donor who was always calling me.

RAP 21: What sort of an impact do you think this money will have on the media in Liberia, both in practical terms and symbolically?

Josephus Moses-Gray: This is the first time ever for such a grant. The funds have already been disbursed to its recipients. Through the grant, journalists were able to resettle and re-gain some of their properties and buy items for their homes.

RAP 21: What do you see as the greatest challenges still facing the Liberian print media in upcoming months?

Josephus Moses-Gray: The greatest challenges still facing the Liberian press media are the lack of sufficient printing houses and the high cost of printing. The lack of a formal education for Liberian media practitioners is also a problem. The majority of the media practitioners are just high school graduates.

RAP 21: What advice would you give to journalists who would like to launch a similar initiative for their fellow media?

Josephus Moses-Gray: My advice is they have to be forceful and progressive in undertaking such project. You must have a specific target and be credible.

RAP 21: Finally, what will you use the money from the grant on?

Josephus Moses-Gray: I used my share of the grant to purchase a laptop computer which I am now using to develop other projects for the greatest good of the largest Liberian society.

OSIWA is part of the Soros network, which provides US$10 million in grants annually for human rights projects that support open societies in West Africa. Previously, Gray worked to establish journalism scholarship programs at the University of Liberia.

For more information, contact Josephus Moses-Gray at jmoses1970@yahoo.com