Monrovia -

t is not only voluminous and well-informative, but it is also full of evidences. It is full of proof and well detailed, like the Maritime story on page 11”, said Zack Wleh, one of Monrovia’s curious residents who found their heads buried in a rather strange newspaper.

Residents of Monrovia were Wednesday early morning awaken to the sight of a strange newspaper on the Liberian newsstand.  People in offices, street corners, entertainment centers, and university campuses and even in vehicles were seen Wednesday curiously flipping the pages of the FrontPageAfrica newspaper with much excitement as most of them nodded their heads as they read the promotional copies of the newspaper.

In addition to several phone calls received by staff writers and reporters of FPA from dozens of readers throughout Wednesday who commended them for what most of them described as job well-done, several others kept themselves busy with the 30-page newspaper which contained stories ranging from politics to legal matters to economics and sports including several columns on other wide range of issues.

Wednesday, FrontPageAfrica, after more than four years of establishing itself as Liberia’s most reliable and most-read online newspaper, produced its maiden edition of its print version as it transitions from online to print. While the online service remains to cater to its millions of online readers, the print version is intended to not only be circulated in just the Capital but nationwide as well.

In his commentary commemorating the launch of the print version, the Editor-In-Chief, Rodney Sieh said, “As we make this transition, it is important to restate that we intend to carry out our duties in the same professional manner we have fought to maintain thus far: without a hidden agenda, driven by our mantra to tell the truth—and to follow the story where it takes us. Either we tell it like it is, or we do not tell it at all!  

‘Western Style’

V’mert Kaifunbah, a business man who despite his busy schedule occurred himself with the articles of the FrontPageAfrica newspaper said, And what I love the most about it is that it is like a Western newspaper—I mean the in-depth reporting by the writers, the nature of information, the volume, the extra-ordinary size of the papers, and so on. ”  

 “It is simple to read, unlike other dailies who believe in big words”, said Mariama Passewe, a high school student. “I wouldn’t mind even if the price is stepped up because it is worth it”, she said

On the University of Liberia main-campus, Wleh said he paid L$35.00 (almost twice the price of the newspaper) because he desperately needed to lay his hands on one. “My comrades kept telling me about the paper. So I had to reach on MacDonald Street (the site of the newspaper vendors) to get it for L$35.00, though I was initially told that it was being sold for L$20”, he said.

Hailed For Scandals Exposure

Several of the readers told FPA that they will subscribe to the print version because, according to them, they love the FPA’s continual exposure of scandals.

Editor Sieh, in his commentary, stated: “One of the key reasons FPA insists on exposing scandals is to tackle and assist our country's postwar development efforts and help anchor its new democracy for which so many lives were sacrificed! FPA’s struggling young journalists love their country and work hard every day and night to ensure that our newfound freedoms and rights are not subverted by a few that might be politically well-connected. Needless to say, our approach has drawn frustration from many who have tried tirelessly and still look to manipulate FPA and convert it into another mouthpiece for the ‘powers that be.’”

Sieh urged readers to continued to support the efforts of the FPA as it makes the much-anticipated transition from online to print. He continued in the commentary, “ To those in government—and their relatives hoping to strike and reap gold at the expense of poor and struggling Liberians, we are watching, waiting and we will expose you!”

“Liberia is our country and belongs to no person or group in particular. FrontPageAfrica remains committed to a strong code of ethics that it has mandated its journalists to adhere to. Accordingly, we seek nothing less than the truth in pursuit of fairness to all parties and a firm commitment to the protection of our institution”, he concluded.

Reporter Nat Nyuan-Bayjay can be reached at nbayjay@frontpageafrica.com or (231-77-402737)