Protocol observed.

Honourable officials,

Leadership of the Press Union of Liberia, 

Distinguished journalists and media practitioners,

Representatives of government, civil society, and development partners, Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning.

It is a privilege to join you today as we commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2026 under a theme that speaks directly to the foundation of democratic life and the future of our societies. We are invited not only to celebrate press freedom, but to reflect seriously on its role in shaping peace, advancing human rights, strengthening security, and driving development.

Press freedom is often discussed as a right, and rightly so. But it is also a system, a practice, and a responsibility. At its core, it is what allows citizens to see how they are governed, to understand decisions that affect their lives, and to hold power accountable. Without it, democracy becomes hollow. With it, governance becomes more transparent, more responsive, and more legitimate.

In every democratic society, the rule of law depends not only on institutions, but on visibility. Laws must be applied fairly, but they must also be seen to be applied fairly. It is through the work of journalists that this visibility is created. When the media investigates corruption, reports on judicial processes, or gives attention to injustice, it reinforces the idea that no one is above the law. In this way, press freedom is not separate from the rule of law. It is one of its strongest pillars.

In Liberia, this connection carries particular importance. The country's journey toward peace and democratic consolidation has shown how essential open civic space is to stability. Over the years, the growth of radio, print, and digital media has expanded that space, giving citizens more opportunities to engage in public life. The media has helped connect communities to institutions and has brought local concerns into national conversations. It has made governance more visible and participation more meaningful.

Yet civic space is not something that sustains itself automatically. It must be protected and strengthened. When journalists face restrictions, when citizens hesitate to speak openly, or when access to information is limited, that space begins to narrow. And when it narrows, participation declines and trust weakens.

At the same time, the environment in which the media operates is changing rapidly. We are living in an age defined by the speed of information. News travels instantly. Opinions spread widely. Narratives form quickly. This has created unprecedented opportunities for communication, but it has also introduced serious risks.

Misinformation and disinformation have become defining challenges of our time, not only because false information exists, but because of how fast and how far it now travels. Today, a single unverified claim can spread across communities within minutes, often amplified by social media systems that reward attention rather than accuracy. Content that provokes emotion tends to move faster than content that is carefully verified. As a result, false information can circulate as quickly as facts, and sometimes even faster.

This creates a difficult environment for citizens. When people are exposed to competing versions of reality, it becomes harder to distinguish truth from distortion. Over time, this erodes trust, not only in the media, but in institutions more broadly. In contexts like Liberia, where stability depends on public trust and social cohesion, the consequences can be serious. Rumours and misleading narratives can quickly influence behaviour, deepen divisions, and create unnecessary tension.

Artificial intelligence adds a new layer to this challenge. It offers tools that can support journalism, such as analyzing data or improving access to information.

But it can also be used to create highly convincing false content, including fabricated images, audio, and text that are difficult to distinguish from reality.

This increases the risk of manipulation and further complicates the information environment.

In this context, the role of professional journalism becomes even more critical.

Technology does not reduce the need for ethics, judgment, and verification. It increases it. The more complex the information space becomes, the more citizens rely on credible journalists to provide clarity, context, and truth.

The consequences are not abstract. They affect how people think, how they act, and how societies function. False reports can shape public opinion, influence elections, and undermine confidence in institutions. In fragile contexts, they can deepen divisions and create instability. In Liberia, where peace has been carefully built over time, the spread of unverified information can create unnecessary tension and weaken social cohesion.

The problem is not only the existence of false information, but the speed at which it spreads. By the time corrections are made, the damage is often already done.

This reality places a heavier responsibility on those who produce and share information, particularly journalists.

In this environment, trust becomes the most valuable asset the media has. Without trust, even accurate reporting may be questioned. With trust, journalism becomes a stabilizing force in society. Trust, however, is not automatic. It is earned through consistency, through accuracy, and through integrity.

Journalism is grounded in a discipline of verification. This discipline is what distinguishes credible reporting from speculation. It is what ensures that information contributes to understanding rather than confusion.

Ethics, in this sense, is not an abstract principle reserved for codes of conduct or training manuals. It is a daily discipline that shapes every decision a journalist makes, often under pressure and with limited time. It is reflected in the moment you receive a piece of information and choose to pause, to ask who the source is, what their interest might be, and whether the information can be independently confirmed. It is reflected in whether you take the extra step to verify, whether you seek a second perspective, and whether you are willing to delay publication in order to get the story right.

Ethics is also present in how a story is framed. A headline is not simply a summary. It is often the entry point through which the public engages with a story, and in many cases, it shapes the entire interpretation. Words can inform, but they can also inflame. A slight exaggeration or a poorly chosen phrase can distort meaning and influence public reaction in ways that are difficult to reverse. Ethical journalism requires a constant awareness of this power and a deliberate effort to use it responsibly.

It is equally reflected in the effort to provide context. Facts alone are not always sufficient. Without context, they can be misunderstood or misused. 

 Responsible reporting goes beyond stating what happened. It explains why it matters, how it fits into a broader pattern, and what remains uncertain. It resists the temptation to amplify claims simply because they are dramatic or widely shared, and instead prioritizes clarity and understanding.

There is a lesson often attributed to Socrates, known as the triple filter test. Before sharing information, one should ask: is it true, is it good or beneficial, and is it useful? 

These questions remain highly relevant today. Before publishing a story, before sharing a post, before amplifying a claim, these same filters can guide responsible journalism. If information is not verified, if it does not serve the public interest, or if it does not contribute meaningfully to understanding, then restraint is not weakness, it is professionalism.

Ethics is also reflected in what is left unsaid. Not every rumour deserves a platform. Not every detail contributes to public understanding. There is judgment involved in deciding what informs and what may harm. This is especially important in sensitive situations, where careless reporting can heighten tensions or damage reputations unnecessarily.

To the journalists of Liberia, this moment calls not only for reflection, but for renewed commitment. Your role extends beyond reporting events as they occur.

You shape how those events are understood, how they are remembered, and how they influence public thinking. In many ways, you shape the national conversation.

You influence how citizens perceive institutions, whether they trust them or question them. You influence how communities respond to challenges, whether calmly or with fear. You influence whether public discourse becomes constructive or polarized. This influence carries weight, and with it comes responsibility. It requires a commitment to accuracy, even when the pressure to be first is intense.

In a fast-moving information environment, speed may bring attention, but accuracy builds credibility. It requires restraint, even when sensationalism may attract audiences. Journalism is not about provoking reaction, but about enabling understanding. It requires independence, even when there are competing interests, and it requires courage, because telling the truth is not always easy.

At the same time, it is important to recognize that journalists do not operate in isolation. They work within conditions that are not always supportive. In Liberia, many media institutions face financial constraints that affect sustainability and editorial independence. Limited resources can restrict the depth of reporting and make it difficult to invest in investigative journalism. Access to reliable data is not always guaranteed, and there are instances where pressures, both visible and subtle, influence how journalism is practiced.

These challenges are real, and they must be addressed. A strong and independent media cannot exist without an enabling environment.

The role of government in this regard is essential. Freedom of speech and press freedom must be protected not only in principle, but in practice. Journalists must be able to operate without fear of intimidation or interference. Access to public information must be facilitated, because transparency strengthens governance.

When governments support press freedom, they build trust with citizens and reinforce their own legitimacy.

The protection of journalists is a fundamental human rights issue and a matter of national security. When journalists are threatened, intimidated, or silenced, the flow of information is disrupted and public accountability is weakened. Ensuring that media practitioners can work safely and without fear is essential, not only for their individual rights, but for the health of democracy itself. A society that protects its journalists is a society that protects truth, and in doing so, strengthens both its stability and its resilience.

At the same time, there is an important dimension of journalism that speaks directly to Liberia's future, and that is the role of the media in shaping the narrative of the country itself.

For too long, the story of Liberia in international and sometimes national discourse has been dominated by conflict, crisis, and challenge. While these are part of the country's history, they are not the whole story. Liberia is also a country of resilience, of innovation, of opportunity, and of progress.

Journalists have a critical role to play in telling that fuller story. This does not mean ignoring problems or avoiding critical reporting. 

On the contrary, accountability must remain central. But it also means recognizing that journalism can highlight solutions, showcase progress, and give visibility to opportunities.

There are stories of young entrepreneurs creating jobs, of communities building local solutions, of reforms that are improving governance, of investments that are opening new economic possibilities. These stories matter. 

They shape how citizens see their own country. They shape how investors and partners perceive Liberia. They contribute to national confidence and to international reputation.

Rebranding Liberia is not a public relations exercise. It is a process of aligning perception with reality. And the media is central to that process.

By telling balanced stories, by highlighting both challenges and progress, by giving attention to innovation and resilience, journalists can help shift the narrative from one of limitation to one of possibility.

In doing so, you contribute not only to information, but to nation-building.

As the United Nations Development Programme, we remain firmly committed to supporting this vision, not as an abstract ambition, but as a practical agenda rooted in Liberia's development priorities. 

We recognize that a free, capable, and trusted media sector is not separate from governance reform or development outcomes. It is a central part of how those outcomes are achieved.

Our partnership with the Press Union of Liberia is therefore not symbolic. It is strategic. It is built on the understanding that strengthening journalism strengthens democracy, and that strengthening democracy creates the conditions for peace and sustainable development.

In practical terms, this partnership can and should go further. It is about investing in people as much as institutions. It means supporting journalists to deepen their skills in investigative reporting, so that complex issues such as public finance, natural resource management, and service delivery are reported with depth and clarity. 

It means strengthening capacity in digital verification, so that journalists are better equipped to identify and counter misinformation in real time, particularly in an environment where false narratives can spread rapidly.

It also means reinforcing ethical standards, not only through training, but through systems that encourage accountability within the profession itself. Professional associations have a critical role to play here, in setting expectations, supporting peer learning, and promoting a culture where integrity is valued and protected.

At the same time, expanding civic space requires engagement beyond the newsroom. UNDP sees value in supporting initiatives that connect media, civil society, and public institutions in constructive dialogue. When these actors engage openly, it reduces mistrust, improves access to information, and creates a more enabling environment for both governance and journalism. 

There is also an opportunity to support media sustainability. A media sector that is financially fragile is more vulnerable to influence and less able to invest in quality reporting. Exploring innovative approaches, whether through partnerships, capacity support, or new models of content development, can help strengthen resilience and independence.

Another important area is media and information literacy. Supporting citizens to better understand how information is produced, how to assess its credibility, and how to engage responsibly in public discourse is essential. A well-informed public strengthens the impact of responsible journalism and reduces the space for misinformation to take hold.

All of this connects directly to the broader goals of democratic governance and sustainable development. When citizens have access to reliable information, they are better able to participate in decisions that affect their lives. When institutions are subject to scrutiny, they are more likely to perform effectively. When public discourse is informed and constructive, societies are more stable and more cohesive.

This is the vision that guides our work. A Liberia where the media is not only free, but trusted. Where journalists are not only protected, but empowered. Where information does not divide, but informs. And where partnership between institutions such as UNDP and the Press Union of Liberia continues to contribute to a stronger, more accountable, and more resilient society.

In closing, shaping a world at peace begins with how we inform, how we communicate, and how we understand one another. Press freedom provides the space for this to happen. Responsibility gives it meaning.

The future of Liberia's democracy will depend not only on its institutions, but on the strength, credibility, and integrity of its media.

The task before us is clear. To protect press freedom, to strengthen its practice, and to use it in the service of truth, accountability, and progress.

Thank you. Please structure for press release and social media, this is my boss statement at the world press Freedom Day where he served as a keynote speaker

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