Voinjama, Lofa County – Liberia’s Vice President Joseph Boakai says the pages of the newspapers and the airwaves of radio stations must be places of information, education, entertainment and development and is calling on the local media to stop the trading of insults, vulgarity, jabs and the humiliation of national leaders and irreligious maligning of people’s character.
“The misuse and abuse of the media by some must stop. Our country and leaders are being hurt unjustifiably by some bad apples in the press,” the Vice President said during programs marking World Press freedom Day celebrated in Voinjama Lofa County this week.
The Vice President, who served as guest speaker, said in his keynote address that it is important that both the government and the media have corresponding duties. “In that the government grants all the freedoms as has been done, while the press has the charge to keep all the ethical standards and to act responsibly.
And said he must admit that most journalists in the country have been quite outstanding in the discharge of the sacred journalism duties. They have been professional, dutiful, selfless and patriotic, while there are some who have wilfully chosen to be crudely unethical.”
Added VP Boakai: “Some have rendered themselves for the most part-well, how do I say this modestly to a room full of journalists? Well, let us say, there are some who clearly stand wanting in character and in the discharge of their journalism duties.”
Sadly, VP Boakai said, the conduct of some is diametrically opposed to the enviable values left behind by Blyden, Porte and others.
“I believe that in order to have a progressive free press that will contribute towards ensuring sustainable development, the Press Union of Liberia must move decisively to establish self-regulating measures, as we see in many other countries.
This will ensure that the media acts ethically amid the volume of freedom it now enjoys. To put it directly and simply on this World Press Freedom Day, I think it is time for the Press in Liberia to have a true self-introspection and come to terms with what must be done to secure and sustain the freedom we are enjoying.”
The VP suggested that the press should strive to do better as Journalist Kenneth Y. Best, who once argued that journalists must begin to rebuild the press in Liberia.
And the media must help mobilize the Liberian people to protect and defend their rights, as well as to exercise their responsibilities in society so that no one will ever take advantage of them again. Which was the way, the media can help build a democracy.
“You will need to act more genuinely and decisively to restore the dignity of the Liberian press. It needs to ensure that all who practice journalism are truly worthy of the noble profession once practiced by great people whom our history continues to pay tribute to”.
VP Boikai told journalists that if they want a change in Liberia, they should first look at themselves in the mirror and make the change in ethics and some of the laws that hinders press freedom.
“If you want to Make Liberia a Better Place; Take a Look at Yourself, And Then Make a Change. The point I am making is that whether it is the removal of laws that are seen as oppressive or dangerous to those freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution or not, the process begins with you!
Consequently, it is our opinion that your editorials, special features, commentaries and news stories pragmatically should seek to promote and advance the State, not necessarily a particular government.”
The VP then suggested that in order to have a progressive free press that will contribute toward ensuring sustainable development, the Press Union of Liberia must move decisively to establish self-regulating measures, as we see in many other countries. This will ensure that the media acts ethically amid the volume of freedom it now enjoys.
“To put it directly and simply on this World Press Freedom Day, I think it is time for the Press in Liberia to have a true self-introspection and come to terms with what must be done to secure and sustain the freedom we are enjoying.
Finally, as we celebrate world press freedom today, our Government condemns in the strongest terms, the murdering, and dehumanization of journalists across the world.
In no uncertain terms we consider those who unjustifiably target journalists as the real enemies of the world. Each of us must be held accountable for our actions just as each of us should allow the rule of law to take hold.”
Mae Azango – [email protected]