THE DATE WAS THE 12TH OF September, when the President of Liberia met with scores of Liberian Journalists, leaving out renown media institution like the Public Agenda Newspaper, thereby depriving us the opportunity to participate in the Presidential Dinner.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE selection process was done that made us to fall victim of not participating, but it is important to inform the Ministry of Information and the office of the Press Secretary to the president that the Media, the Government and the Citizens are Partners in the form of Tripartite arrangement, and as such we should treat each other with greatest degree of respect and recognition of effort in our respective lines of duties.
THERE IS NO ANY JUSTIFIABLE REASON/s why prominent institution like the Public Agenda Newspaper should be lift out in this year Presidential dinner.
ANOTHER GROUP OF JOURNALISTS THAT were left out is the rural journalists. They too have been playing their role in an effort to inform, educate and entertain Liberians from all walks of life through their conventional and social media platforms.
THEY TOO ARE LIBERIANS WHO have demonstrated commitment in playing their role with almost seriousness, courage and determination. For our government to deny us participation in having dinner with the president and other national gathering clearly suggests down playing of our effort and contributions to the nation’s recovering process.
DURING THE DINNER GATHERING, IT is our believe that the president and the journalists had a physical interaction, and some crucial national issues were raised bothered on institutional growth that we, too, needed to partake in. our qualm here is not about the food, but the platform to put before the nation’s father.
WE ARE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER, we are not political party, non are we the mouth piece for any politician, treat us with respect and on an equilibrium basis. We have been playing our respective roles with no disrespect to the government as the mother unit, so please, there is a need for a culture reciprocity in our interactions.
SEE US AS JOURNALISTS, AND TREAT us as independent professionals, as we see you as the mother unit and policymakers. “ Do unto others as you might wish them do unto you” this is the golden rule which should be a walking stake as we proceed with efforts gear towards nation building.
