By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
The Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia and Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gbarnga, Anthony Borwah has challenged journalists to engage in professional journalism and commit themselves to honesty, fairness, independence and respect for the rights of others, if they’re to compete globally.
Respect for truth and the public’s right to information are fundamental principles of journalism.
Bishop Borwah wants emerging journalists of the country to be creative and innovative, especially in the 21st century where competition is high and is most needed.
“Do not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence as a journalists,” Bishop Borwah said.
“For three days, you are going to be train to tell the stories of our people, whether individual or the community in term of the knowledge, wisdom and experience you will gain from these well season journalists of our time,” the Gbarnga Diocese Bishop asserted.
He urged them to be aware that the broadcasting industry has become very competitive nowadays.
“But for us we are not, what we are doing is to train our own people that will be like other professional journalists around the world,” Bishop Borwah said.
He said the Diocese station, Radio Paraclete will not be like other stations.
“Some of the stations go about insulting and tearing down their leaders, especially the President and other government officials and preach negative messages. But for us here at radio Paraclete, we will try our best to be very ethical and professionals in the day to day running of this station. We will go beyond the news. We will try to be very independent for the common good of our listeners and followers so we’re counting on you all to focus and make us proud,” Bishop Borwah adds.
The Bishop was speaking in Gbarnga recently at a three-day intensive radio training workshop of the Gbarnga Diocese radio for over ten immerging journalists.
Further speaking, the Catholic Bishop disclosed that radio Paraclete’s partners in Italy donated and installed solar power equipment valued at US$54,000.00.
Bishop Borwah cautioned the public not to see the media as their enemies rather a true partner for Development.
He warned the emerging journalists to at all times be ethical and professional in the discharged of their duties.
Speaking earlier, the Human Resource head at the Catholic Diocese of Gbarnga and a member of the management team at the station, Enoch Morris said the station remains committed in serving the Public with quality and a reliable information in the county.
“We have not come here to joke neither to mislead our people. But we have come to serve the public with trust,” Mr. Morris added.
For hi s part, Frank Sainworla, Managing Editor of the Public Trust Media (PTMG) Incorporated and the lead facilitator of the training is optimistic that after the three days training participants will report and interpret honestly, striving for accuracy, fairness and disclosure of all essential facts couple with relevant available facts.
At the end of the three-day intensive training, the participants lauded the Management of the institution and partners for the initiative and promised to practicalize the knowledge acquired.