Kings and Queens Wins Double at 5th National Press Club Exhibition

By-Aminata S. Kromah
aminatakromah116@gmail.com

Sinkor-July 1, 2023: The Kings and Queens International School located in Montserrado County has been crown as the champion of this year’s national press club exhibition.

Kings and Queens beat over 15 high schools on 30th June 2023 to clinch both Elementary and Senior High Division titles.

The 5th National Press Club Exhibition is a news presentation challenge that feature high schools students to showcase their media talents.

The event which was organized by Youth Media Action with support from INTERNEWS Liberia provides the opportunity for students to enhance their journalism skills.

The competition comprises of a five minute news presentation by young people in high schools who intend to endeavor into the journalism profession.

While a panel of judges comprising of media veterans and experts are recruited to evaluate and grade the performance of the different schools to determine the winner.

Kings and Queens international school snatched the senior title from Kingdom of Hope school system to walk away with ninety thousand Liberian dollars (90,000 LRD) while she retained the elementary title after winning it last year to bag home thirty thousand Liberian dollars totaling their cash prize to ninety thousand Liberia dollars (90,000 LRD).

Serving as the keynote speaker, the Minister of Gender and Children Protection Willimina Tarr lauded Youth Media Action for affording youths that are passionate about Journalism the opportunity to be able to showcase their talents, and research on topics amongst others.

Minister Tarr noted that she’s grateful for the form and manner in which the day of the African Child is celebrated by Youth Media Action when the children understand the full definition of freedom of speech

“I am so much grateful to YMA for giving the opportunity, that they are able to have control over themselves, they are able to do research and facts finding and they are able come and present in a live platforms. We are very grateful to celebrate the day of the African Child this way, when the Children understand what freedom of speech is”.

For his part, the Executive Director of Youth Media Action Varmah Kamara appreciated the efforts of all of those Schools that participated in the 5th National Press Club exhibition including local and international Partners, the Judges, the Press Union of Liberia amongst other.

Mr. Kamara said the success of the 5th edition of the National Press Club exhibition was very hectic and a difficult one and he look forward to seeing more Schools in the 6th exhibition of the national Press Club.

“The exhibition was very success, grateful to all of our friends, Partners, Sponsors, the Judges and the body, the Press Union of Liberia for helping in making this program a success. We look forward to see many Schools in the 6th edition of the National Press Club exhibition “.

He thanked INTERNEWS Liberia, USAID, Telecel and the Liberia Broadcasting System for the continuous support towards the competition.

Furthermore, the President of the Female Journalist association of Liberia (FEJAL) Siatta Scott Johnson serving as one of the Judges of the exhibition announced the King’s and Queen’s international School as the winner in the competition from both the Elementary with 557 points and Senior High School crowning them Champion of the exhibition.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Vice President of the Press Union of Liberia, Mr. Daniel Nyankonah lamented that he will continue to pushed aspiring journalists to continue honing their skills in news collecting, reporting, and presentation.

Mr. NYankona emphasized that doing such process, he will tirelessly help in exposing those young and aspiring Journalists in order to speak in the public and by helping this to equip them to contribute to society immensely by pledging the PUL support

“We pushed aspiring journalists to continue honing their skills in news collecting, reporting, and presentation. We emphasized that doing this would expose the youngsters to public speaking and better equip them to be contributing members of society”

The Christian Missionary Fellowship School walk-away with third place in the elementary category while Kingdom of Hope School elementary squad was decorated as the third place winner.

Meanwhile, Youth Media Action is a non-profit organization that seeks to build the capacity of young people in the media landscape. Since it’s establishment in 2016, the YMA and partners have worked to build the capacity of high school Journalists by providing them with a firm practical grounding in journalism through training opportunities and media exposure intended to inspire media reforms. YMA currently operate in ten of Liberia’s fifteen Counties with over forty High Schools in her network.