Rodney Sieh

Rodney Sieh
Nationality Liberian
Occupation journalist
Organization FrontPage 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 12th, 2014.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Jina Moore (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  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . 19 March 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  3. ↑ "Court upholds fine against "Frontpage Africa" newspaper in libel case". International Freedom of Expression Exchange. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Liberia: Editor Receives Death Threat". IFEX via All Africe. 20 July 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21585017-president-keeps-peace-fails-reduce-graft-skin-deep-success Liberia: Skin-deep success
  6. ↑ http://www.onthemedia.org/story/on-the-media-2014-12-12/


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