Buchanan, Grand Bassa County – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) Grand Bassa Chapter held its first-ever media conference on Saturday, challenging journalists in Grand Bassa County to become brave defenders of truth and accountability while issuing a strong warning against corruption and unethical reporting.
Managing Director of Africa Development Management Associates B. Elias Shoniyin, who gave the keynote address at the historic event in Buchanan, stated that the county’s development depends on a dynamic and independent press that can expose corruption, amplify the voices of citizens, and demand accountability from public officials.
Speaking under the theme “Strengthening Community Media for Development, Accountability, and National Progress,” Shoniyin said poverty and underdevelopment in Liberia’s rural communities are rooted not only in governance failures but also in “the silence of those who saw wrong and said nothing.”
“A county without a functioning press is a county without a mirror,” he told journalists, emphasizing that without a strong media, Grand Bassa would struggle to recognize its governance shortcomings and pursue meaningful change. In one of the speech’s strongest moments, Shoniyin condemned journalists who accept bribes or suppress stories for personal gain, describing such practices as “dressed-up fraud” rather than journalism.
“Journalism’s moral authority rests entirely on one foundation: the truth, told without fear or favor,” he said, warning that accepting money to kill stories or protecting political allies betrays the nearly 294,000 residents of Grand Bassa who rely on the media for accurate information.
He also reminded public officials that a free press should not be viewed as an adversary but as a partner in good governance. “The press is not your enemy. A functional press is, in fact, the best gift any government can receive. It tells you what is working and what is not before problems become crises,” he said.
Shoniyin praised the PUL Grand Bassa Chapter for organizing the county’s first media conference, describing it as a historic milestone. He encouraged the chapter to establish a permanent office, enforce a strong code of ethics, and expand reporting to underserved communities across the county.
Addressing young journalists, he urged them to embrace lifelong learning and resist political pressure, stressing that the stories they produce today will shape Grand Bassa’s future. Shoniyin used a powerful metaphor to end his speech, comparing the press to the St. John River and calling upon reporters to “flow” with the truth despite challenges.
“You, the press, are Grand Bassa’s St. John River. Do not stop. Do not be subdued by political pressure. Do not be redirected by private interest. Flow for the farmer, the market woman, the child and the forgotten communities until they can speak for themselves,” he declared.
The conference brought together media practitioners, government officials, civil society representatives and development partners to discuss the role of community media in promoting development, transparency and democratic governance in Grand Bassa County.
