Monrovia, Liberia – Despite ongoing conflict within the union, the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) brought together journalists to mark World Press Freedom Day on Friday, May 4, 2024.
Journalists paraded Monrovia’s main street to kick off the celebration, which concluded with an indoor program at the Monrovia City Hall, where media figures gave speeches stressing the value of press freedom and journalistic honesty.
Each year on World Press Freedom Day, the world celebrates the importance of journalism and recognizes the integral role a vibrant, independent media plays in democratic societies.
Akoi Baysah, the acting president of the Union, underlined the theme’s importance and the gravity of global warming. In an effort to lessen the environmental issue’ global impact, he urged the media to focus more on it and to promote more education.
The theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”, beckons us to delve deeper into the crucial role of media in shaping perceptions, advocating for change and fostering a sustainable future.
Mr. Baysah at the same time called on all auxiliaries of the union to join in an effort to help solve the PUL long power struggle. He added that the union can not fully operate under such condition.
Green Cities Incorporated CEO James K. Mulbah gave the keynote address. He drew attention to the differences among the media and asked the Union to review its primary goals. In order to properly move the Union forward, he emphasized the importance of strategic planning and sustainability.
Mr. Mulbah cited a statistic from UNESCO that shows that since 2009, over 70% of environmental journalists have faced attacks because of their job. He claimed that this has put the lives of reporters covering the climate catastrophe in jeopardy.
“Without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it. And yet the journalists we rely on to investigate this subject and ensure information is accessible face unacceptably high risks all over the world,” said Audrey Azoulay, director general of Unesco.
Numerous presenters underlined the press’s wider role in supporting democracy and keeping authority figures responsible. They reaffirmed the duty of journalists to preserve the truth and urged unflinching support for press freedom both within and outside of Liberia.
Simultaneously, they demanded a speedy resolution to the union’s ongoing dispute, claiming that it is causing the union to regress rather than advance and elevate the organization and its members.
Keynote speaker James Mulbah, CEO of Green Cities Incorporated, assistant minister Kadiatu Conyeh, Association of Journalists in America representative Peter Massaquio, Police spokesperson (122) Cecelia Clark and her deputy, as well as current and former PUL officials and representatives from civil society organizations, and a large member of the union graced the program.
