The J.P. Hicks Family Mass Communication Scholarship provides support for students at the University of Liberia who are interested in mass communication, either in print, broadcast or online publications.

About The University of Liberia

The University of Liberia was established in 1862 as Liberia College and became a University in 1951. The oldest degree-granting institution in West Africa, UL has trained leaders of state, church, industry, and commerce for Liberia and other African countries. During Africa’s colonial period, the university provided higher education for many Africans for whom such education was unavailable in the colonies. The university remains committed to educating the future leaders of Liberia and beyond.

Liberia has one of the oldest newspaper industries in all of West Africa. The first paper, the Liberian Herald, began printing in 1826, shortly after free African Americans and freed slaves from the United States settled in Liberia in the early 1820s.

However, during Liberia’s civil conflict, which ended in 2003, real journalism virtually ceased. Many newspapers and radio stations were shut down by the former president, Charles Taylor, leaving the media dominated by voices that were run by – or favorable to – Mr. Taylor. The state television station, ELTV, was off the air for most of the civil war. Some editors and reporters were jailed, some killed.

The industry has since rebounded vivaciously. In Monrovia, the country’s capital, readers have a choice of approximately 10 daily papers and a more than equal number of weekly publications.

ELTV has resumed broadcasting principally as a commercial station, and there is a growing number of online news sites. As the country continues to pull itself out of the devastation caused by 15 years of brutal civil strife, the presence of so many newspapers – and diverse opinions and voices – stands as a sign of encouragement about Liberia’s prospects.

However, the quality of media and journalism in Liberia spans a broad spectrum.
A cadre of well trained and highly motivated journalists can play a vital role in Liberia’s political, social, and economic revitalization. The J.P.Hicks Family Scholarship was established to identify, assist and encourage aspiring journalists who exhibit a strong commitment to both the ideals of a free press and the progress of their country.