By Frank Sainworla, Jr. fsainworla@yahoo.com
The Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the Liberian House of Representatives, Cllr. Fonati Koffa says Liberia has a “poverty-stricken press”, with many Journalists becoming vulnerable to blackmailing and other unethical practices.
Cllr. Koffa made the assertion on Thursday, November 7, 2019, when he gave the keynote speech at the opening of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Congress on the Capitol Hill campus of the state owned University of Liberia in Monrovia.
While acknowledging the “enormous power” the press/media wield in our democracy by checkmating government to promote transparency and accountability by “speaking truth to power,” there was a need for the rest of the society to also speak truth to the press.
But he said the press should exercise their power with “great responsibility.
Citing a number of instances, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee pointed out that the level of poverty in the society has led some Journalists to see it as an opportunity to engage in blackmail or “an opportunity to make money,” while noting that there are some Journalists who are upholding their professional ethical integrity.
Newsmakers are “caught between the cissors” as there are some Journalists who are “not operating in the same degree of principles“.
“The press is not called the Fourth Estate for nothing,” the Grand Kru County Representative said.
Rep. Koffa stressed the need for Journalists and the PUL to critically examine ills in the Liberian media that tend to undermine their integrity, citing the long-running US$100,000.00 PUL headquarters construction scandal.
Several years ago, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf donated this amount for the construction of the Journalists Union’s HQ. But to date, the money cannot be accounted for and with no work done on the project.
“You (the press) have to find that money and build that headquarters. The money disappeared in thin air,” the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee told the audience of Liberian Journalists in the UL auditorium.
Rep. Koffa then cautioned the press in Liberia that “the future of Liberia depends on you,” saying that they should see themselves as part and parcel of the national development drive.
He acknowledged that the Liberian economy is currently in bad shape, blaming it on the fact that Liberia is an import-dominant economy, suggesting that Journalists and the PUL should find innovative ways of dealing with the level of poverty in the media, instead of engaging in blackmailing newsmakers.
The Grand Kru County Lawmaker suggested that the PUL establish and endowment fund, mobilize resources and invest to improve the welfare of Journalists.
“You need a business from this process,” Rep. Koffa added.
The PUL Congress comes ahead of the Union’s elections for a new corps of officers this Saturday, November 9, 2019 in Monrovia to run the affairs of the Union for the next three years.
On the eve of the vote on Friday, two panel discussions will be held in the University of Liberia auditorium on the State of the Media Economy and Self-regulation versus State regulations. Panelist are Commerce Minister, Prof. Wilson Tarpeh, Ledgerhood Rennie, Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System and Rodney Sieh, Publisher of FrontpageAfrica. Other panelists are Peter Quaqua, President of the West Africa Journalists Association (WAJA) and former PUL President, Jan McArthur, head of Internews-Liberia and Cllr. Bobby Livingstone, Secretary General of Liberia National Bar Association.
Meanwhile, a debate amongst the candidates vying for PUL President, Vice President and the Secretary General posts will follow after the panel discussions at the same.