World Bank: A Free Press Is ‘Part of the Infrastructure of Development’

Monrovia – The World Bank’s top official in Liberia has told Liberian journalists that an independent and credible press is not a hurdle to the country’s progress but a building block of it.

“History and research make clear that independent and credible media is not an obstacle to development. It is part of the infrastructure of development,” said Georgia Wallen, the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for Liberia.

Ms. Wallen was delivering the keynote address on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in Monrovia. The celebration was held under the theme “Empowering Independent Media for Democracy, Accountability and Sustainable Development in Liberia.”

She built her remarks around the role of the Liberian press in the past, the present and the future.

‘Eyes and ears of society’

Looking back, Ms. Wallen said the PUL had endured for more than six decades of Liberia’s 179-year history, with journalists “giving voice to the voiceless and providing a lifeline of information in good times and in hard times.”

“Across the years, Liberia’s media has been the eyes and ears of society – also influencing the national conscience,” she said. What journalists investigated, reported and published, she added, has helped shape public understanding and the direction of the national conversation.

She recalled that the World Bank’s 2002 World Development Report, Building Institutions for Markets, published as Liberia was still in the grip of conflict, devoted a full chapter to the media. The report, she said, described the press as a force for giving voice to people on the margins, improving public health and serving as “an impetus for commerce,” provided it is independent, accountable and reflects diverse views.

“The foundation of journalism is credibility,” she said. “And credibility is the product of an enduring commitment to truth, transparency and accountability.”

Press and the economy

Turning to the present, Ms. Wallen linked a free press directly to Liberia’s economic prospects.

“Development depends on an informed public, and an informed public depends on a free and responsible press,” she said. Development, she argued, takes more than roads, electricity and private investment; it also takes trusted information and public confidence.

“Investors need reliable information. Citizens need to understand policies that affect their lives. Communities need a platform to voice their concerns and aspirations,” she said.

By reporting responsibly on both challenges and progress, she said, the media helps create conditions in which “businesses can grow, reforms can succeed, and development can be inclusive and sustainable.”

Social media and AI raise the stakes

Ms. Wallen warned that the rapid spread of social media and artificial intelligence places a heavier burden on professional journalists. She cited the World Bank’s 2026 World Development Report, The Promise of Artificial Intelligence, which she said notes that accurate information depends on strong local institutions and data systems.

“As it becomes harder to distinguish truth from fiction, journalism will be increasingly challenged to become more reliable, more rigorous and more indispensable,” she said.

‘A story not yet being widely told’

Looking ahead, the World Bank official pointed journalists to what she called a story “crucial to Liberia’s future, but not yet being widely told”: population growth. She noted that the 2022 National Population and Housing Census projected Liberia’s population will grow to more than 8 million people by 2042.

“What will it take for Liberia to be ready for that future?” she asked. “What investments are needed now to prepare Liberia for realizing its national vision?”

She encouraged reporters to dig into data coming from the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), including the recent Agriculture Census and upcoming surveys of household spending and businesses, and to go “beyond the numbers to uncover the stories of Liberians countrywide.”

‘You are here’

In closing, Ms. Wallen urged journalists not to underestimate the value of their work. “Every microphone you hold, every camera you operate, every interview you conduct, and every story you publish has influence and value,” she said.

While journalists around the world write about Liberia, she said, members of the PUL hold a distinct advantage: “You are here – on the ground in counties, districts, and communities across this great country.”

“The voices of Liberia’s farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, young people, women, children and communities matter; you can help us to hear them,” she said.

She congratulated the Union on 62 years of service and wished it “an even stronger contribution to Liberia’s story – past, present, and future.”