Liberia News Agency (LINA)
The Liberia News Agency (LINA) is the official state-run news wire service of Liberia. Founded in 1978, LINA served for years as a centralized distributor of news and government information. However, its operations were severely disrupted during the country’s brutal civil conflict, which began in 1989 and led to the destruction of its main building and communications infrastructure. After years of dormancy, LINA was reactivated in 2012, albeit in a reduced and largely symbolic capacity.
Today, the agency primarily operates as a government mouthpiece, republishing press releases, ministerial statements, and presidential communiqués. Its reach and influence remain limited, especially compared to commercial outlets and digital-native media.
Media assets
News agency: LINA
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
LINA is a fully state-owned entity operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT). Its entire leadership structure, board of directors, chief executive officer, and senior managers, is appointed directly by the President of Liberia, without any competitive selection or independent vetting.
As of June 2025, no changes have been made to improve institutional autonomy. The agency continues to function more like a public relations arm of the executive branch than a journalistic institution.
Source of funding and budget
LINA is wholly reliant on government funding, with its budget channeled through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT). It does not generate independent commercial revenue, nor does it operate any paid subscription or syndication services. The agency’s financial model remains entirely dependent on state allocations.
According to publicly available budget documents, LINA received US$ 423,000 for the 2020–2021 fiscal year, which covered staff wages, limited operations, and basic communication infrastructure.
While specific figures for subsequent years (2022–2025) are not disaggregated in national budget summaries, estimates based on MICAT’s overall allocations and internal ratios suggest that LINA’s funding has remained relatively flat, with annual allocations hovering between US$ 420,000 and US$ 450,000.
In early 2025, press reports and parliamentary discussions indicated concerns about the “underutilization” of LINA’s potential, citing persistent publication delays and a lack of regional news outreach. However, no official audit or oversight report has been released to date to assess the agency’s operational or fiscal efficiency.
Despite receiving regular public funding, LINA continues to operate with minimal infrastructure, limited visibility, and virtually no independent revenue streams.
Editorial independence
LINA’s editorial role is formally framed as a communications vehicle for the Liberian government. According to its official mandate, the agency exists to “publicize government programs and development initiatives,” and it operates directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT). It does not maintain a separate editorial charter or statutory guarantees of independence.
The agency shares office space with MICAT, and its news output is primarily published on the ministry’s website and its official Facebook page. LINA does not run a standalone news portal or syndication network, and its content almost entirely focuses on presidential events, ministerial statements, and state-led development campaigns.
While no official censorship directive has been publicly disclosed, media observers and former employees interviewed for this report have alleged that internal editorial guidance discourages coverage that reflects negatively on government ministries or officials. These allegations have been echoed in press union statements and civil society critiques, though no formal documentation, such as leaked memos or editorial policy manuals, has been independently verified.
The agency has no independent oversight board or statutory framework to assess its editorial integrity. Calls by local press freedom advocates and international organizations to restructure LINA into a more independent public service news provider have so far gone unheeded.
June 2025