Journalist Recommends Punitive Actions Against biased Journalists in Liberia

FrontPage, Opinions, Press Release

Monrovia, Liberia

The former Chairman of the Membership Committee of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) is troubled by the partial reportage and partisan roles taken by journalists in the ensuing election for new officials of the Liberia Football Association (LFA).

Mr. Mambu James Kpargoi is most especially disturbed by the flagrant disregard for the code of ethics of the Press Union of Liberia by journalists most of whom are members and former officials.

These members of the media are especially blameworthy of violations of several articles of the PUL Code of ethics. Articles six, seven and eight of the PUL Code of ethics preclude journalists from exercising partisanship in the discharge of their journalistic duties.

But the flagrant disregard and disrespect for the PUL Code of ethics has become prevalent during these LFA elections with rival journalists and media institutions openly expressing support for various candidates in the race.

Some media institutions have even gone to the wider extent of persistently propagating tribal tirades against certain candidates despite warnings and cautions from the PUL and fellow journalists.

This unwholesome behavior by members of the media signals a troubling countdown to the 2011 Presidential and Legislative elections with justifiable cause for fear of a repetition of such unprofessional practice.   

Article Seven of the PUL Code of Ethics cautions journalists to refuse and denounce all attempts at bribery and corruption. The article further states that no journalist should receive or expect any benefit from the publication/broadcast or the suppression of any information or commentary and should avoid all affiliations with any individuals/groups whose company is likely to call his/her credibility to question. The journalist should put himself/herself above partisan and ideological cleavages in order to give greater prominence to norms and professional practices.

Article Six of the Code of Ethics cautions journalists against malicious information liable to discredit a person or expose him/her to scorn or hate should not be published/broadcast while Article Eight warns journalist to refrain from biased coverage of events that have tribal, sectional and political implications.

The publications and broadcast of several media institutions and journalists are deliberate violations of these provisions of the PUL Code of ethics and are inimical to the professional practice of the noble profession of journalism. These practices have the tendency to bring into question the credibility of the Liberian media especially in the wake of a damaging indictment of the local media in the 2009 Human Rights Report of the United States Government.

As members of the media, it is our duty to do all we can to adhere to highest ethical standards, professional competence and good behavior in order to win the credibility of the public. But some colleagues and even senior ones have chosen to disregard this important guide and openly professed their partisanship in the ensuing LFA elections.

I therefore call on the Grievance and Ethics Committee of the PUL to institute an immediate probe into the activities of journalists violating the Code of Ethics in the ensuing LFA elections and to recommend stringent punitive sanctions against members of the media found culpable.

I also call on the membership committee of the PUL to deny membership to journalists found culpable following the inquest of the Grievance and Ethics Committee. I am of the conviction that such actions and measures would serve as deterrence for members of the Liberian media ahead of the 2011 general elections in Liberia.

 

Signed: ___________________________________

            Mambu James Kpargoi

            Former Chairman

            Membership Committee

            Press Union of Liberia

 

Editor @ March 17, 2010