Mr. Rennie (left) stressed that Gongloe’s warning highlights an “unethical and unprofessional practice” that many journalists privately admit exists but are reluctant to confront publicly.
Monrovia – Former Information Minister and veteran journalist Ledgerhood Julius Rennie has called on the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) to take urgent and proactive steps to address what he described as “mercenary journalism” in the country, echoing concerns recently raised by human rights lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh
Recently, Gongloe, a renowned human rights advocate and former presidential candidate, issued a strongly worded statement titled “Mercenary Journalism — A Threat to Liberia’s Progress”, in which he warned that paid propaganda disguised as news was undermining Liberia’s fragile democracy.
“Mercenary journalism is dangerous because it turns lies into headlines and truth into a casualty. It makes bad leaders look good and good leaders look bad. It poisons public debate, undermines fair competition, and weakens already fragile institutions,” Gongloe cautioned.
The Liberian People’s Party leader linked the practice to the country’s violent past, saying the failure of journalists to expose bad governance contributed to military coups and civil wars that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. He proposed a four-point plan, including zero tolerance for pay-to-publish practices, strict editorial enforcement, citizen support for independent media, and transparency in government dealings with the press.
In response, Rennie—who served as Director General of the Liberia Broadcasting System before being appointed Information Minister under former President George Weah—expressed disappointment over the PUL’s silence more than 48 hours after Gongloe’s remarks.
“I bear witness to Cllr. Gongloe’s litany of defense of not just journalists, but freedom of expression and its role in upholding democratic pluralism in Liberia. He suffered personally for his advocacy for human rights and social justice—my utmost salute, Cllr.!” Rennie wrote in a widely circulated statement.
Rennie stressed that Gongloe’s warning highlights an “unethical and unprofessional practice” that many journalists privately admit exists but are reluctant to confront publicly. He warned that the PUL’s silence risks eroding public trust in the media.
“If we hold the public trust as society’s gatekeepers, then we must come clean when we too fall afoul of such trust. It is only but the responsible and honorable thing to do. No need for hush hush or tacit silence of admittance,” he noted.
Rennie urged the PUL to act as a responsible referee, enforcing peer review and sanctioning violators, reminding the Union that with rights and freedoms come equal responsibility.
