Kanubah Underscores Challenges Facing Liberian Journalists -Says PUL, PAL to tackle Bread-and-Butter Issues

MONROVIA – The President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has underscored a latiny of critical challenges facing Liberian journalists and media workers, including bread and butter issues, for which he promised to the work with the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL) to remedy.

Speaking at the induction of officers of PAL over the weekend, Mr. Julius Kanubah averred both PUL and PAL would work together to advance and improve working conditions of journalists and media workers in the country.

He said the PUL believed if the quality of journalism and media is to improve, the publishers of national newspapers must do all they can work with the PUL to address the bread-and-butter issues of journalists and media workers such as poor salaries, lack of health insurance in most instances, the issue of employment contracts underpinned by unregulated entry level in journalism.

“The Publishers Association of Liberia, we believe must work with the PUL to ensure the institutional dignity and sustainability of the PUL,” Kanubah said at the program witnessed by foreign diplomat, public officials and private sector stakeholders.  

“By this I mean, the construction of the national headquarters of the Pul, we have envisioned as The Stanton Peabody Media House is a responsibility of the Publishers Association and all individual and institutional members of the PUL,” he added. “Let the PAL not only a separate project as we envision the PAL, like Reporters Association, Sports Writers Association, Female Journalists Association, Economic Journalists Association, and all other auxiliaries of the PUL to be institutionally housed the National Headquarters of the PUL.”

He said it was time all journaists and media workers put aside their differences and work together for the rights of journalists, free press, freedom of speech and expression, and democracy in Liberia.  

The Press Union of Liberia leader extended PUL’s  congratulations to those taking the mantle of PAL, including Mr. Alphonso Toweh, President; Mr. Bai Sama G. Best, Vice President; Mrs Winnie Saywah Jimmy, Secretary General and Mr. Chester Smith, Financial Secretary.

The induction of the elected PAL leaders, Kanubah said marked an important democratic progress in the Association.

“We thank the outgoing leadership headed by our senior brother and a man of principle Mr Othello Garblah,” he said. “I also thank Ms. Helen Nah Sammie for contesting the presidency – the only position in the PAL that was in contention as all other positions were won on white ballots. I would like to also commend the PAL for electing a female in this new leadership, a continuation of previous gendering of the PAL leadership.”