(Monrovia, Sunday March 22, 2015): The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has ended a successful mini-Congress in Monrovia with a call for improved working conditions of journalists in the country.

The March 20-21 event marked the first ever mini-congress of the PUL since its transformation into a trade union organization in 2009. An annual mini-congress is mandated by the PUL Constitution as a platform for the leadership to make administrative and financial reports to the membership. The congress was delayed from the end of last year to March this year due to logistical constraints, a release from the Union issued in Monrovia said.

Congress recommended that the leadership take action to introduce greater capacity for journalists, set up an ad hoc committee to review the Union’s financial details and report to the membership in two weeks; organize a meeting with Publishers/media managers to present the collective bargaining agreement as a basis of reaching a formal accord; and encourage journalists to increase adherence to ethics, including by abiding by the Code of Conduct of the PUL and related instruments.

Congress also adopted the Gender Media Policy as an instrument to promote women’s participation and equal opportunities in the media; launched its three-year strategic plan of US$1.3 million and an OSIWA-sponsored media monitoring project,   and encouraged journalists on the utilization of the Freedom of Information Law, among others.

The Congress heard from a wide range of partners, including the Ministry of Information, Culture Affairs and Tourism, the Diplomatic Corps, IREX and the Legislature.

The Union’s 3rd and the longest serving president and founding member 87-year-old James c. Dennis, Sr. graced the occasion and cautioned young journalists to practice by professionalism.