By Pewu Y. Sumo
Capitol Hill, Monrovia: — As journalists across Liberia gathered in Kakata to observe World Press Freedom Day, a prominent voice for justice delivered a stinging critique of the government’s current media engagement strategy.
Renowned human rights lawyer and former presidential candidate, Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe in a podcast on Monday, issued a stern warning to the administration, arguing that the government’s decision to bypass traditional media outlets in favor of self-publishing advertisements on the official Executive Mansion website is systematically “strangulating” the independent press.
A Financial Stranglehold
Speaking in solidarity with the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) in front of the Ministry of Information (MOI) on Capitol Hill, Cllr. Gongloe emphasized that the sustainability of a free press is inextricably linked to its financial independence. By diverting advertising revenue—traditionally a lifeline for local newspapers and radio stations—to state-run digital platforms, the government is effectively cutting off the oxygen to the country’s fourth estate.
“Let the government rescue the Press,” Gongloe stated, arguing that the Executive Mansion website should only be used informing, appointments in government or other decisions taken by the government.
Gongloe said, the use of the Executive Mansion website for the advertisement of procurements and vacancies are all things that should be published by the independent press to help them gain revenues.
He averred that if the government truly believe in the private sector for Jobs creation, it should consider the independent press as one that has the potential to employ hundreds of Liberians in the private sector.
“If the government is serious about promoting the private sector, one strong and vibrant sector is the information sector,” Gongloe said.
Speaking further, the renowned human rights lawyer said, the government should also prioritize timely payment of media houses for smooth operations of the fourth estate.
World Press Freedom Day in Focus
The celebrations in Kakata serve as a reminder of the challenges facing Liberian media workers, ranging from physical safety to economic survival. Gongloe’s remarks underscored a growing concern among media advocates: that economic censorship can be just as effective as legal intimidation.
A Call for Dialogue
Gongloe’s solidarity message ended with a call for the government to rethink its communication policy. He urged the administration to recognize the independent press as a partner in nation-building rather than a competitor for ad space.
As the PUL wraps up its activities in Margibi, the focus now shifts to whether the government will respond to these concerns or continue its move toward a centralized, state-controlled information model.
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