By Hawa Dolley, Rolinda Kantan & Michlyne Williams
MONROVIA, April 27 (LINA) – The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah, has cautioned the Liberian media against sensational and unbalanced reportage, pointing out that it has the proclivity to paint a negative image of the country to the global community.
Tweah observed that some members of the Liberian media are bent on the publication of negative articles which do not reflect the true happenings of events in the country.
He wants the Liberian media to show love for country not by necessarily promoting the government, but by reporting in a manner that will ensure fairness, truth and accuracy as well as void of political biases.
The statement from the Finance Minister comes against the backdrop that a number of journalists in Liberia have taken to partisan journalism, with some propagating the interests of politicians rather than conforming to standardized editorial practice that reflects the cardinal demand of accuracy, balance and clarity or the “ABC” of jourmalism.
Tweah, who spoke in Monrovia on Thursday at the Ministry of Information regular press conference, claimed that while attending the recent Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF in Washington DC, he was approached by a colleague who expressed dismay over the “headlines” emanating from the Liberian media. .
Tweah said negative headlines reflect a bad image of Liberia to the outside world, stressing that it also scares away investors from the country as well as prevent the country from making significant headways and achieving growth.
“Journalism can be balance without promoting the government,” Tweah said, noting that every Liberian needs to work together to promote the social and economic premium of the country.
Tweah believes that politics will always be a part of the Liberian culture, as it has existed since the inception of the nation, adding, however, that Liberians should rather learn to mirror the true image of their country so as to enhance the uplifting of the nation.
