The International Federation of Agricultural Journalists also known as IFAJ has named Liberian journalist and development communications practitioner Jefferson Massah to serve on its vision 2025 strategic visioning and plan committee.

IFAJ is a non-political professional association for agricultural journalists and agricultural communication with membership in 45 countries.

According to a press release, the committee is IFAJ’s second visioning committee and will be responsible for developing the organization’s strategic vision and action plan for 2025.

“In 2013, the federation adopted a ‘Vision 2020’ strategic plan to guide the implementation of activities, in line with the following priorities: supporting the basic organization of member guilds/associations; development of an internet network; involve guilds/associations which embrace, but do not necessarily enjoy, freedom of the press in their countries,” the release revealed.

“Since then, IFAJ has become a much more global organization, with 50-member guilds. The organization has extended its networks into new areas of the globe and reached people with new insights and perspectives.”

Meanwhile, Massah has expressed delight in his selection. “It is a real privilege and an honor to be appointed by the IFAJ Executive Committee as a member of its Vision 2025 committee, especially being the lone African representation on the committee,” he said.

He also promised to make a full representation of the African constituency of IFAJ by sharing with other committee members the challenges confronting agricultural journalism in Africa and how the federation can be supportive to the professional development of African journalists reporting on agriculture.

In 2018, Massah was the first Liberian journalist to attend the federation’s Master Class program in the Netherlands. The program provided an opportunity for journalists to share their thoughts and experiences on the critical role of the media in promoting agriculture development—particularly in developing countries. He also received the  2015 George Atkins Communications Award.

Featured photo courtesy of Jefferson Massah