TMCnet News
We'll Remain Unbending [editorial](AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Democracy Is Incomplete without a free and unhindered press. A free press is like a vehicle that drives democracy and without this factor perhaps, the attainment of certain democratic values and virtues would be impracticable. In Most Developing countries including Liberia, the press has been the fulcrum of our democracy whether in tempestuous era and/or time of peace and stability. The NEWS Newspaper, like any other media institutions that survived dictatorial years of the military junta and the former warlord Charles Taylor, deserves respect for having maneuvered and survived to sail smoothly into harbor. Today, The Liberia Media and Marketing Services Incorporated, publisher of the NEWS Newspaper, turns 24 years since its establishment on April 24, 1989. The NEWS was established by two prominent Liberians, Professor Wilson K. Tarpeh and Morris Dukuly, a university communication professor, as voice of the voiceless. The paper appeared on the newsstand exactly eight months before the start of the brutal civil war in Liberia, which is known as a "popular people's uprising." In A Statement issued Tuesday, the management of the paper says The NEWS will remain professional and ethical in the performance of its duty bearing in mind the social responsibility to the country. However, The Statement emphasized that it will not bow to any pressure from anywhere but that it would exercise the highest degree of professional journalism and will not allow itself to be armed twisted."We will not compromise our integrity; we will remain unbending and will not allow sentiments to overshadow our professionalism," the statement said. Since Its Appearance on the newsstand 24 years ago, employees of the NEWS have been faced with threats, attacks, arrests and detention by the regime of former President Charles Taylor and have been threatened with lawsuits. We recollect in 2001, four senior employees of the NEWS including former Managing Editor, Joseph G. Bartuah, Associate Editor, Abdullah Dukuly, Sub-Editor, Jerome Dalieh and Senior Reporter, late Bobby Tapson were arrested and detained on charges of Espionage. The Arrest And subsequent detention followed the publication of a story under the headline "US$50,000 Spent On Helicopter Spare Parts". The story apparently did not go down well with the Taylor administration for which they pressed charges against the paper. The senior journalists spent about 37 days at the Monrovia Central Prison. Another Terrible Experience encountered by the NEWS in March 2000, was when the Taylor administration branded the paper as 'dissident collaborators' following the illegal closure of Star Radio and suspension of broadcast at Radio Veritas. We also recall at one point, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh was picked-up and detained by the National Security Agency in connection to the same publication concerning the US$50,000 spare parts for helicopter. Additionally, In 1999, we recall when a reporter and editor of The NEWS were held in contempt of court during the treason trial involving Bai Gbala and others. During the case, the presiding judge at the time held the reporter and his editor with contempt for publishing a story from the trial which indicated that "State Witnesses Contradict Each Other" although there were glaring contradictions in the witnesses' testimonies. Since The Inception of the regime of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, there hasn't been any incident of arrest involving reporters of this paper, however, there have been threats made. As We Celebrate our 24th anniversary, The NEWS commends all of its former employees including those who lost their lives (Klon Hinneh, John Vambo et all) in the service of the truth. As We Begin our 25th year journey of professional service, we will not yield to threats or harassment from anyone be it public or private individuals. We will remain unbending and uncompromising when it comes to the ethics of good journalism. Anyone who thinks that this paper will succumb to unnecessary threats or intimidation, that person or institution must think twice. Copyright The NEWS. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |