PHOTO: Cllr. Elisha T.J. Forkeyoh, Secretary General of the LNBA
At program marking the 61st anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia in Monrovia on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) called on the PUL’s leadership to license Journalists to prevent irresponsible journalism, as Garmah Never Lomo reports.
The Secretary General of the LNBA, Cllr. Elisha T.J. Forkeyoh was speaking at the 61st anniversary of the PUL held at the Monroviia Christian Assembly on ninth Street in Sinkor.
“Permit me to speak frankly: I am convinced that the PUL must move toward a licensing regime for journalists,” Cllr. Forkeyoh urged media professionals.
“Professions that are practiced without licensing are easily infiltrated by unscrupulous persons who may undermine their dignity and credibility” the LNBA stated.
He added: “Consider this: lawyers are licensed by the LNBA before being allowed to practice law; doctors must be licensed before they can save lives; pharmacists are licensed before dispensing medicine; drivers are licensed before entrusted with lives on the road; nurses and midwives must be licensed before caring for mothers and children.”
The LNBA Vice President wondered, “why then should journalism, one of the most powerful professions, capable of shaping opinions and directing the course of a nation, be left unregulated?”
The LNBA pointed out that licensing regime will not silence journalists, as some may fear. Rather, it will Safeguard the profession against quacks and imposters; protect the dignity of trained and ethical journalists; Strengthen public confidence in the press; Ensure continuous training and professional development; provide a framework for discipline that is fair, structured, and transparent.
According to Cllr. Forkeyoh, the LNBA once had similar challenges, with lots of quarks perambulating the corridors of our courts, but he said this had changed to a larger extent.
The LNBA is strongly encouraging the Press Union of Liberia to initiate conversations with government and stakeholders on how licensing can be achieved, whether through an independent Press Council, statutory regulation, or self-regulation with legal backing. Regulation must come not as a tool of suppression but as a mechanism of professional protection.
Speaking further, the LNBA Secretary General said Journalism is too important to be left vulnerable. “You must jealously guard your profession, ensuring that only those who meet minimum academic, ethical, and professional standards are admitted to its practice”.
He added that if every profession in Liberia raises its standards, the nation itself will rise, urging the PUL to enforce discipline within, emphasizing that if this is done, no one from outside will dare attempt to undermine Liberia’s Journalists Union.
“Mr. President, officers, and members of the Press Union of Liberia, we salute your resilience, your courage, and your continued relevance in shaping Liberia’s future. As you commemorate your past and construct your future, know that the Liberian National Bar Association stands firmly with you.”
Meanwhile, the LNBA has pledge its continuous support, collaboration, and solidarity with the PUL “in the shared mission of building a just, democratic, and prosperous Liberia. Together, lawyers and journalists can keep this nation on the path of accountability, integrity, and development.”
Cllr. Forkeyoh reminded members of the PUL that sixty-one years of service to nation and people is no small achievement, saying that the PUL has been a true watchdog of our society, a voice for the voiceless, and a conscience for the nation. For this, you deserve our collective respect and gratitude.
“The work of the press, like the work of lawyers, is central to democracy and development,” he stated.
The LNBA Secretary General added: “I urge the PUL to intensify its campaign of self-cleansing and evaluation. Raise the bar. Set higher standards. Make it clear that while journalism protects society, society must also be protected from irresponsible journalism”.