Kanubah Urges Journalists to Prioritize Accuracy, Responsibility -Launches REMAPSEN, Implores PUL Members to Regularize Membership

MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has taken a significant step in promoting specialized journalism with the launch of the Africa Media Network for the Promotion of Health and Environment (REMAPSEN). PUL President Julius Kanubah during a launching ceremony emphasized the critical role of journalists in Liberia’s development, highlighting the importance of accurate and responsible reporting in health and environment. The Analyst reports.

The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has launched the Africa Media Network for the Promotion of Health and Environment (REMAPSEN) at its head offices in Monrovia.

PUL President Julius Kanubah emphasized the critical role of journalists and media in Liberia’s development, highlighting the importance of specialized reporting in health and environment.

In his remarks, Kanubah congratulated the founding members of REMAPSEN, stating that their initiative demonstrates the importance of specialization in journalism.

He urged the group to adhere to the core values of the PUL’s code of ethics, ensuring fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility in their reporting.

Kanubah also reminded journalists and media practitioners to register or regularize their membership with the PUL, emphasizing the importance of a strong and professional union.

The PUL is also mobilizing resources to construct its national headquarters, the Stanton Peabody Media House.

The launch of REMAPSEN aims to promote accurate health information, strengthen environmental reporting, and highlight issues affecting women and children.

The PUL believes this initiative will contribute to Liberia’s development and welcomes the group’s efforts to dismantle misinformation and disinformation.

“We would like to register our sincere thanks and appreciation to UN Women for sponsoring the launch of the Africa Media Network for the Promotion of Health and Environment (Remapsen),” he said, adding that this is an Africa-wide media network led by journalists and media practitioners from across the great continent of Africa.

In Liberia, he said, “I have seen that some of our best, talented, energetic, professional, investigative, inquisitive, people-centered journalists and media practitioners are a part of this initiative.”

He complimented journalists Rita Jlogbe, Moses Garzeawu, Cyrus Harmon, Laymah Kollie, Vasta Tarlue, Emmanuel Degleh, Comfort George Ukulor, William Harmon, Henscin Dehgar, Aria Deemie, Mercy Gbhoe, Gerald Koiyenneh, Tina Mehnpaine, Esther Mason, Titus Yekeryan, Siaway Miapue, Henry Gboluma, Fatu Kamara, Kannay Ziamo, and Bryan Dioh.

Continuing, Kanubah said as a Union, “we are always deeply excited when a group of journalists, media and communication practitioners come together to forge a partnership for reporting on development.

“By development here, I do not necessarily mean political development but human development. Development constitutes processes of transformation and reproduction that somewhat impinge on impoverishment, inequality and human insecurity.”

According to him, in a country as Liberia, the problems of impoverishment, inequality and human insecurity remain prevalent.

“Many of our citizens are in poverty and the state or condition of our country is poor or impoverished,” he indicated, adding: “Inequality in access to resources such as financial, land, infrastructure and humans is rampant. Many of our citizens are confronted by human insecurity such as food insecurity, physical insecurity, and environmental insecurity underpinned by threats such as climate change.”

The PUL leader also said he is aware that all is not gloom and doom about Liberia, acknowledging that since 2006 when the first post-war democratically elected government was installed, there have been progress in terms of human and infrastructure development in the country.

He said: “The strides that have been made our government/s across time and space, backed by our international partners including UN Women, and supported by the journalism and media community have been remarkable. As we speak, progress has and is being made in the fight against poverty, inequality, and human insecurity. Yet challenges remain.”

Kanubah asserted that journalism and media serve as a critical conduit for the development of any country.

“Through critical and analytical reports and analyses by journalists and media institutions, society can be transformed,” he stressed. “In Liberia, we are aware of the vital role of journalists and media in Liberia. From educating our citizens to promoting constructive cultural values, empowerment of our citizens for informed decision, journalists and media continue to hold political, economic and society power accountable.

“It is within this context that we are proud to have a group of journalists dedicated to the promotion of health and the environment. In forming and launching this group, you have demonstrated that specialization in journalism is essential to an informed society.”

He said health and environment are two specialized fields to which sustained journalistic reporting is required, and because one of the criticisms of journalists and the media in Liberia is that “we are generalists rather than specialists. With this team of journalists within Remapsen, we are bound to have specialist journalists in health and the environment.”

Collectively, he added, “your goals of promoting accurate health information to support public health efforts across Liberia; strengthening environmental reporting to inspire sustainable actions; and using media to highlight issues affecting women and children, represent an important step to advancing our country Liberia.”

“We believe through your reporting, we would experience increase in the quality and quantity of specialist information on health and the environment,” Kanubah further said. “As you begin this journey, I would urge you to adhere to the fundamental core values of code of ethics and conduct for Liberian journalists and media practitioners by ensuring fairness, accuracy, impartiality, and responsibility.”

Through such a reporting, he noted, “we will collectively dismantle mis and disinformation, on our broadcast and printing platforms, both offline and online.”