The article “When Truth-Telling Becomes Wrong” by Peter Quaqua, former President of the Press Union of Liberia and former President of West African Journalists Association (WAJA), highlights the challenges faced by journalists in Liberia and Africa. He sheds light on the importance of press freedom and the need for protection of journalists in the region, speaking to the fact that in Liberia and across Africa, the courage to tell the truth often comes with a cost, as journalists face fear, impunity, and political hostility for exposing wrongdoing and promoting accountability. Despite progress made in recent years, Quaqua notes, the climate for journalists remains unpredictable, with physical assaults, online harassment, and threats of lawsuits still prevalent, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and protection for press freedom. See full text of the article is below in this edition of THE ANALYST.
When Truth-Telling Becomes Wrong
By Peter Quaqua
In Liberia and across Africa, the courage to tell the truth too often comes with cost. The pen that once illuminated darkness now faces the weight of fear, impunity, and political hostility. Yet, truth remains democracy’s ultimate defense.
A Torchlight in the Dark
There was a time when the journalist’s pen was seen as a torchlight — illuminating darkness, exposing wrongdoing, and inspiring accountability. Today, in many parts of the world — and especially in fragile democracies like Liberia — that same pen has become a target of victimization. The simple act of telling the truth now demands courage and often comes with personal risk.
In a country still rebuilding trust in its democratic institutions, journalism remains both a lifeline and a lightning rod.
A Day of Reflection
Every year, November 2 is observed as the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Yet, for many journalists across Africa, this day is less a commemoration than a reminder — that too many have been attacked, harassed, bullied, or killed simply for doing their jobs. In Liberia, this reality is not abstract; it is felt.
Progress Worth Recognizing
Liberia has made meaningful strides. The 2019 repeal of criminal defamation laws ended decades of legal intimidation that saw journalists jailed for stories that embarrassed the powerful. The Freedom of Information Act of 2010 — the first in West Africa — gave citizens and reporters the right to access public information-at least in principal than in practical terms…
These reforms were not gifts. They were hard-earned victories, won through years of advocacy by the media, civil society, and international partners. They opened the door to greater transparency and inspired a new generation of journalists determined to challenge power with facts. Indeed, they signaled a bold statement for an open society.
But the Struggle Continues
Despite this progress, the climate for journalists remains unpredictable. Physical assaults, online harassment including cyber bully and threats of lawsuits have replaced the high pervasive stranglehold as manifestation of intimidation.
The 2019 assault and subsequent death of journalist Zenu Koboi Miller — allegedly at the hands of state security — remains one of the most haunting reminders of impunity.
Too many cases of violence against journalists go unresolved. Investigations stall, prosecutions never come, and perpetrators walk free. Each unpunished attack sends a chilling message: that truth can be silenced without consequence — and that message emboldens others to do the same.
The Changing Dynamics
The threats facing journalism today are more complex. Disinformation, digital manipulation, and political polarization have flooded Liberia’s information space. Social media, once hailed as a platform for citizen voice, has become a battleground for smear campaigns, misinformation, insults and outrage. Ironically, it is often political masterminds who fuel the very conditions that undermine professionalism in the media.
In this toxic environment, journalists are trapped between partisan narratives — accused of bias no matter which truth they tell. This erosion of trust threatens not only the safety and credibility of journalists but the very fabric of democracy.
Behind every story told — or untold — are human lives: the journalist forced into hiding, the family living in fear, the community deprived of vital information. When a journalist is silenced into submission, corruption thrives, injustice deepens, and democracy suffocates.
Freedom — With Responsibility
Former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson once said: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
Regardless of the ethical lapses or professional misconduct of some in the press, a democracy can never afford to exist without journalists — no matter how flawed they may be. If there are apologists of the state dreaming of such a scenario, I am sorry — not at this time.
As we however call for protection, we must also demand accountability within our own ranks. Journalists, too, must be held to the highest ethical standards.
When we exaggerate, distort, or publish without verification, we betray not only our craft but also the public whose trust we seek to defend.
That is why self-regulation is essential. The media must strengthen internal accountability — through peer review, ethical training, and effective oversight — to correct excesses and restore credibility.
Self-regulation is not a concession to government; it is a covenant with the public. It ensures that our freedom is exercised responsibly and that our pursuit of truth remains anchored in fairness and integrity.
Why It Matters
Make no mistake: press freedom is not a favor from the state. It is a fundamental right guaranteed by Liberia’s Constitution and by international law.
But beyond legal recognition, journalism is the oxygen of democracy — giving citizens the information they need to make informed choices and hold power to account.
So, every attack on a journalist — overt or covert — is an attack on the public’s right to know. We must refine our understanding of journalists – they are not enemies of the state or political rivals, but essential workers of truth. Their safety is inseparable from our collective freedom.
Truth as a Public Good
When truth-telling becomes wrong, impunity becomes right. This is unacceptable! That inversion of values corrodes public trust and destroys every path to accountability. Unless we reclaim truth as a public good, we risk normalizing deceit as governance.
The challenge before us is clear: to rebuild spaces where honesty is not feared but valued — and where truth, however uncomfortable, becomes the foundation for justice and reconciliation.