Alfred Sirleaf and The Daily Talk

Thanks to Mental Floss, where I first discovered this story.

This incredibly inspiring story comes out of Monrovia, Liberia.

In the capital of one of the world's poorest countries, Alfred Sirleaf works as the unpaid one-man editorial staff of a most unlikely news publication.

The Daily Talk isn't your regular newspaper. In a country where most cannot afford a newspaper, or television, or internet, or often electricity, Sirleaf has made a heroic effort to sustain that most important ingredient of any functioning democracy—a well-informed citizenry.

Monrovia's most-read news source, you see, is nothing more than a blackboard on the side of a shed on the side of a road.

Photo credit New York Times

Sirleaf updates his chalkboard bulletin daily with succinct summaries of the day's events, often accompanied by biting editorials which provide his audience with critical analyses of government leaders and policies that Daily Talk readers would otherwise never hear.

The Daily Talk is hugely popular, with crowds gathering and cars queuing up every day, patiently awaiting the unveiling of the day's news.

Some have characterized the Talk as the worlds only (and most popular) analog blog.

Sirleaf has even developed a subtle system of visual symbols that accompany his stories, so that Monrovians who can't read are able to follow along with others. For example, next to a story about the president's failure to electrify the city Sirleaf hangs a kerosene lamp juxtaposed alongside an unlit fluorescent bulb.

It's clear that Sirleaf provides an invaluable service to his city and country. As an admitted news junkie myself, I know how easy it is to forget that the fire-hose of news and ideas I enjoy on a daily basis is a precious commodity for so many others.

If you have a few minutes, check out the great article about Alfred Sirleaf over at the New York Times.  You can also watch the video from Motherboard.tv below.