MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) on Tuesday marked its 61st anniversary with calls for renewed vigilance in defending press freedom, improving journalists’ welfare, and completing the long-delayed dream of a national headquarters.
Delivering his anniversary message in Sinkor, PUL President Julius K. Kanubah declared that the Union remains “stable, strong, serious, and scrupulously engaged” despite past internal disputes and external pressures. He paid tribute to the founding members who established the Union on September 30, 1964, and urged members to continue upholding its legacy.
“Happy Press Union Day,” Kanubah said, stressing that the PUL remains the country’s supreme professional body for journalists, constitutionally anchored under Article 15 of Liberia’s Constitution.
Concerns Over Rising Attacks on Press
While celebrating the milestone, Kanubah sounded alarm over what he described as a growing trend of harassment and intimidation of journalists under President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration.
“In the preceding twenty-one months since the Boakai administration assumed office, there have been growing numbers of attacks, assaults, harassments, intimidation, and suppression of journalists and media organizations,” he said.
He warned that if unchecked, these incidents could escalate by the end of Boakai’s constitutional term in 2030. “Before the worst happens, we call on the Boakai administration to stop the trend,” Kanubah urged.
The PUL leader cited the recent clash between journalist Franklin Doloquee and Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah as a cautionary example of how government power can be abused against the press.
A Call Against Historical Patterns of Suppression
Kanubah also cautioned the current administration not to repeat the “ugly paths” of past governments, referencing the repressive eras of Tubman, Doe, Taylor, and the less brutal but consequential practices under Johnson-Sirleaf and Weah.
“Without the PUL’s moral guardianship, Liberia risks falling into a regime of excessive government control, suppression, and self-censorship,” he warned.
Media Council Reactivated to Police Journalists
On internal reforms, Kanubah announced the reactivation of the National Media Council by October 2025. The revamped body, to include veteran journalists, lawyers, civil society, women, and religious ethicists, will adjudicate ethical complaints and stem the rise of what critics call “mercenary journalism.”
“The Council will not only serve as watchers of the watchdogs, but as bulwarks of an ethical society,” he said.
Journalists’ Welfare Still Lagging
Despite the Union’s institutional resilience, Kanubah admitted that the working conditions of Liberian journalists remain “problematic.” He cited poor salaries, lack of medical insurance, and irregular benefits.
“In the coming weeks, we will commission a rapid comprehensive assessment to design evidence-based advocacy for improved conditions of service for journalists and media workers,” he announced.
Push for Public Interest Journalism
The PUL President called for sustainable funding for independent journalism, noting that Liberia’s media economy remains fragile. He urged government, the private sector, civil society, and partners to work with the Union to support public interest journalism through advertising, subsidies, and philanthropy.
“A less supported press is a threat not only to democracy but to the welfare of journalists,” Kanubah said.
Headquarters Project Back on the Agenda
Kanubah highlighted the Union’s renewed push to construct its long-awaited national headquarters, first envisioned in 1997. He revealed that anniversary celebrations this year are focused on rallying support for the project, describing it as a “generation of journalists’ project.”
“If our generation fails, we will continue to fail the PUL for generations to come,” he said, urging members and partners, including ECOWAS, to contribute.
Moving Beyond Internal Crisis
Reflecting on the Union’s past electoral disputes, Kanubah said those crises are now behind the organization. “It is time we move ahead,” he declared.
The anniversary program was attended by ECOWAS Resident Representative Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, senior government officials, foreign dignitaries, veteran journalists, and media leaders from across Liberia’s 15 counties. As the Union enters its 62nd year, Kanubah reaffirmed its commitment to defending free speech and press freedom in Liberia. “The Press Union of Liberia must remain the moral guardian of journalism and democracy,” he concluded.
