A legacy of journalism education at the University of Liberia

In 1983, the University of Liberia, with funding from UNESCO, established the Mass Communication Department to meet the growing demand for professionally trained personnel in Liberia's broadcast and print media. The Department was founded with a clear mission: to equip communication professionals with the knowledge, skills and ethical grounding required to provide accurate, credible and trustworthy news and information to the public.

At its inception, the Department was led by Professor T. Nelson Williams, an accomplished media practitioner and educator who served as its first chairman. He was joined by a pioneering team of recent graduates who had earned advanced degrees in media studies in the United States. Among them were Associate Professors Alhaji G. V. Kromah, Lamini A. Warritay and Weade Kobbah-Boley, who today serves as a vice president at the University of Liberia. Joe W. Mulbah, initially appointed as a teaching assistant, later pursued advanced studies in the United Kingdom, returned as an assistant professor and subsequently rose to serve as chairman of the Department.

Growth and reputation

Since its founding, the Department has grown into Liberia's largest and most recognised centre for the training of aspiring journalists and communication professionals. Guided by a commitment to excellence, professionalism and the highest ethical standards of journalism, the Department has become a leading source of skilled communicators serving the media, government and corporate institutions.

The Department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Media, with specialised tracks in print and broadcast journalism. A hallmark of the programme is its emphasis on practical learning: students write articles for The Varsity Pilot newspaper, both online and print, and produce programmes and news content for Lux FM 106.6, the student-operated radio station.

Looking ahead

In 2021, the Department undertook a comprehensive curriculum revision to address contemporary gaps in the field and evolving societal needs. At the same time, it transitioned from the Mass Communication Department to its current name, the Department of Communication and Media Studies. This change marked the first step in a broader, gradual transformation into a full School of Communication.

The envisioned School will introduce multiple career tracks and areas of specialisation, enabling students to pursue focused and advanced learning. Through this evolution, graduates will be better equipped to build strong professional careers, positioning them as attractive and resourceful contributors to future employers and to the wider communication landscape.

Our mission

Our mission is to prepare students for professional careers in communication and journalism by equipping them with the digital competencies, ethical grounding and critical thinking skills essential to thrive in an evolving media and communication landscape. We are committed to positioning students to sufficiently and effectively contribute to knowledge in the fields of journalism and communication through rigorous research and scholarship, thereby advancing both professional practice and academic inquiry.

Our vision

Our vision is to evolve into a distinguished School of Communication that serves as a national and regional hub for excellence in media and communication education and research. We aspire to cultivate a new generation of journalists, scholars and communication professionals who embody integrity, innovation and leadership.