A Charge To Journalists Of Faith
By George Sarwah Stewart, Liberia
Addressing Journalists For Christ Monthly Fellowship- Nigeria
Virtual/Online
Introduction : A Familiar Story (2 minutes)
Let me begin with a situation many of us in this room may have faced.
A journalist uncovers a story.
The facts are solid.
Documents are verified.
Sources are credible.
George Sarwah Stewart
But the story touches power—political power, economic power, sometimes even religious power.
Before the story runs, the phone rings.
A calm voice says, “Let’s talk.”
A meeting is suggested.
Transport is offered.
And then the words we all recognize:
“Let’s manage this thing quietly.”
That night, the journalist goes home wrestling not with facts, but with conscience.
Lekan Otufodunrin, President, Journalists for Christ Nigeria, Chairman, African Christian Journalists Network
If I publish, I may lose my job.
If I don’t publish, I betray my calling.
If I take the money, I survive, but at what cost?
At this crossroads is where biblical and ethical journalism is truly tested in Africa.
Why This Conversation Matters (2 minutes)
Ethical journalism is not collapsing in Nigeria or West Africa because journalists do not know the rules.
Most journalists know the rules.
Ethics collapses because:
- pressure is intense
- survival is uncertain
- support systems are weak
And for journalists of faith, the pressure is doubled:
- professional responsibility
- spiritual accountability
Scripture reminds us in Proverbs 4:23:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Journalism flows from the heart—from values, convictions, and courage—not just from training.
Core Journalism Principles (Grounded in the Profession) (3 minutes)
Let us remind ourselves what journalism, at its best, stands for.
First: Truth
Journalism exists because truth matters.
One widely cited journalism principle says, “The first obligation of journalism is to the truth.”
Scripture affirms this clearly.
Exodus 20:16 commands, “You shall not bear false witness.”
Proverbs 12:22 adds, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”
For journalists, truth is not a suggestion—it is a moral duty.
Second: Independence
Journalists cannot serve two masters:
- public interest and political interest
- truth and patronage
This echoes Matthew 6:24:
“No one can serve two masters.”
The moment journalism becomes a tool for power, tribe, church, or personal gain—it loses its soul.
Third: Accountability
Journalists demand accountability from others, but Scripture reminds us in Luke 12:48:
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
We correct our errors.
We own our mistakes.
We answer to the public.
Biblical Ethics That Speak Directly to Journalism (4 minutes)
- Truth Is a Moral Command
Truth in Scripture is never neutral.
Ephesians 4:25 says:
“Put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
False reporting, distortion, and silence in the face of injustice harm the whole society.
When journalists suppress truth for money, fear, or favor, the damage is communal.
- Justice Over Convenience
Biblical ethics consistently side with justice.
Proverbs 31:8–9 commands:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Journalism that only amplifies politicians and elites but ignores market women, rural communities, and victims of abuse may be professional—but it is not just.
Ethical journalism asks:
- Who benefits if this story is not told?
- Who suffers if we remain silent?
- Integrity Over Survival
This is the hardest truth.
Integrity is costly.
Proverbs 11:3 says:
“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Integrity does not mean journalists will never struggle—but it means compromise will not become a lifestyle.
Integrity is what remains when:
- no editor is watching
- no fellowship is present
- no applause is given
An African Reality Check
Let us be honest.
In Nigeria and across West Africa:
- journalists are underpaid
- media houses are politicized
- safety is uncertain
- social media rewards speed, not truth
Scripture recognizes unjust systems. James 5:4 speaks strongly:
“The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.”
Ethical journalism cannot rest only on individual heroism.
Institutions, media owners, and society must also answer for injustice.
What Ethical Journalism Looks Like in Practice?
In our context, ethical journalism looks like
- verifying even when speed tempts us
- refusing money quietly, without self-righteousness
- choosing words that inform, not inflame
- correcting mistakes publicly
- standing with colleagues who choose integrity
Micah 6:8 summarizes it well:
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”
Ethics is not loud; It is consistent.
An African Reality Check (2 minutes)
Let us be honest.
In Nigeria and across West Africa:
- journalists are underpaid
- media houses are politicized
- safety is uncertain
- social media rewards speed, not truth
Scripture recognizes unjust systems.
James 5:4 speaks strongly:
“The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.”
Ethical journalism cannot rest only on individual heroism.
Institutions, media owners, and society must also answer for injustice.
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What Ethical Journalism Looks Like in Practice (1½ minutes)
In our context, ethical journalism looks like this:
- verifying even when speed tempts us
- refusing money quietly, without self-righteousness
- choosing words that inform, not inflame
- correcting mistakes publicly
- standing with colleagues who choose integrity
Micah 6:8 summarizes it well:
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”
Ethics is not loud.
It is consistent.
Call to Action
To Journalists
Decide before temptation what you stand for.
Treat journalism as a calling, not a hustle.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”
To Journalists for Christ
Create safe spaces where journalists can admit ethical struggles—not hide them.
Mentor younger journalists in courage, not just technique.
To Media Owners and Editors
Do not demand courage without providing protection.
Do not preach ethics while denying journalists dignity.
To the Church
Support truth even when it is uncomfortable.
Defend journalists who speak truth, not only those who praise the church.
How Do We Practice Journalism in a Way That Honors Christ?
Practicing journalism that honors Christ is not about putting Bible verses in stories or protecting religious institutions.
It is about reflecting Christ’s character through journalistic conduct.
- We Honor Christ by Loving Truth
Christ said, “I am the truth.”
So when journalists pursue truth seriously—checking facts, resisting distortion, refusing lies—we honor Christ.
In practice, this means:
- verifying even when it delays publication
- refusing to twist facts to favor power, tribe, or church
- correcting errors publicly and humbly
Truth-telling is not just professional excellence—it is discipleship.
- We Honor Christ by Respecting Human Dignity
Christ consistently treated people—not stories—as sacred.
In journalism, this means:
- not humiliating victims for clicks
- avoiding hate speech and dehumanizing language
- reporting conflict responsibly, not emotionally
- protecting vulnerable sources
A story can be accurate and still be un-Christ-like if it crushes human dignity.
- We Honor Christ by Serving, Not Exploiting
Jesus washed feet; He did not use people.
For journalists, this means:
- serving the public interest, not personal gain
- refusing to use journalism as a weapon for revenge
- avoiding sensationalism that profits from pain
Journalism honors Christ when it builds society, not when it feeds ego or outrage.
- How Do We Maintain Ethical Standards Under Pressure?
Let’s be honest: pressure is the real test—not policy documents.
- Decide Your Boundaries Before the Pressure Comes
Most ethical failures happen in the moment, not because of ignorance.
So ask yourself now:
- What will I never take money for?
- What kind of story will I not suppress?
- What line will I not cross—even if it costs me?
Journalists who wait to decide during temptation usually lose.
- Understand That Pressure Is Normal—Compromise Is Not
Pressure does not mean you are failing.
Pressure often means you are doing something right.
- political calls
- editor hesitation
- owner interference
- subtle threats
These are signs that truth is uncomfortable.
The mistake is thinking:
“Everyone is doing it, so it must be okay.”
Ethics is rarely popular, but credibility is built there.
- Don’t Fight Pressure Alone
Isolation weakens ethics.
Practically:
- talk to trusted colleagues
- seek counsel from senior journalists of integrity
- build peer accountability circles
- use fellowships like Journalists for Christ as support systems, not just prayer meetings
Ethics collapses fastest in silence.
- Accept That Ethical Journalism May Cost You
This is hard—but real.
It may cost:
- access
- promotions
- friendships
- comfort
But compromise costs something deeper:
- credibility
- peace of conscience
- long-term trust
Journalists who last are not those who avoided cost but those who chose the right cost.
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- How Do We Remain Light in Our Newsrooms?
Jesus said we are light, not noise.
Light does not announce itself—it shows direction.
- Be Light Through Daily Conduct
You don’t have to preach in the newsroom.
Light shows in:
- honesty with sources
- respect for colleagues
- calmness under pressure
- refusal to gossip or manipulate
- consistency between private and public behavior
People notice integrity long before they hear theology.
- Be Light in Editorial Choices
Light influences what we prioritize.
This looks like:
- choosing people-centered stories
- asking: Who benefits from this silence?
- resisting tribal or religious bias
- discouraging sensationalism during crises
Light doesn’t shout—it clarifies.
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- Be Light by How You Disagree
Newsrooms are tense spaces.
Remaining light means:
- disagreeing without hostility
- correcting colleagues respectfully
- standing firm without arrogance
- refusing to join unethical laughter or cynical talk
Light does not fight darkness—it exposes it by its presence.
________________________________________
- Be Light Even When You’re the Minority
Sometimes you’ll be
- the only one refusing money
- the only one questioning a story
- the only one uncomfortable with silence
Light is most visible in darkness.
You may not change the whole newsroom—but you may change:
- one decision
- one younger journalist
- one editorial culture over time
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A Final Word to Journalists of Faith
Honoring Christ in journalism does not require perfection.
It requires direction.
- choosing truth again tomorrow
- repenting when you fail
- standing up after compromise
- refusing to normalize corruption
Journalism that honors Christ is not loud, dramatic, or flawless.
It is faithful.
And faithfulness—quiet, costly, consistent—is how light survives in dark places.
Closing Charge
Ethical journalism in Africa will not be saved by codes alone.
It will be saved by men and women of conscience.
Journalists who believe:
- truth still matters
- integrity still matters
- God still cares about public truth
John 8:32 says:
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
May we leave this fellowship not just inspired but resolved.
Resolved to tell the truth.
Resolved to stand firm.
Resolved to practice journalism that honors both profession and faith.
Thank you.