Rodney Sieh
NationalityLiberian
OccupationJournalist
OrganizationFrontPage Africa

Rodney Sieh is a Liberian newspaper editor. In 2005, he founded FrontPage Africa. Originally an online-only publication, the newspaper began to print daily copies in 2008, expanding to a circulation of 1,500, which were collated and folded manually.[1]

FrontPage Africa, Sieh, and reporter Samwar Fallah were sued for libel in 2010 by Christopher Toe, a former Agriculture Minister, who demanded US$2 million in damages; the newspaper had reported that he had embezzled millions of dollars from public funds. The World Association of Newspapers issued a statement on the paper's behalf, stating that while it had no opinion on the merits of the case itself, the amount sought was clearly punitive.[2] The three parties were found guilty and ordered to pay the full amount.[3]

In July 2011, Sieh was notified by a government official that former government minister Willis Knuckles was attempting to have him assassinated, in retaliation for Sieh's role in reporting the sex scandal that had forced his 2007 resignation.[4]

In August 2013, Sieh was imprisoned after he was unable to pay $1.5 million in libel damages awarded to a government minister who had been sacked for corruption.[5]

Sieh was featured in a Liberia-focused episode of WNYC's program On the Media, released on December 12, 2014.[6] Sieh has also employed some of the best women journalist in Liberia, namely; Mae Azango, Tecee Boley and Wade Williams. He and his establishment has been a long-term partner of "New Narratives".[7]

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Jina (19 March 2012). "Liberia: FrontPage Africa, an Investigative Daily". The Pulitzer Center. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  2. ↑ "WAN-IFRA condemns libel judgement in Liberia". World Association of Newspapers. 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2012 – via HighBeam Research.
  3. ↑ "Court upholds fine against "Frontpage Africa" newspaper in libel case". International Freedom of Expression Exchange. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Liberia: Editor Receives Death Threat". IFEX via All Africe. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Skin-deep success". The Economist. September 7, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  6. ↑ "OTM goes to Liberia | On the Media". WNYC Studios. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  7. ↑ "New Narratives". Retrieved September 1, 2019.
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