(Monrovia, July 1, 2015): The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has concluded a two-day training of trainers’ workshop in Monrovia, challenging participants to use the knowledge and skills acquired to help make journalism better in Liberia.

Speaking at the close of the workshop on Wednesday, PUL President Abdullai Kamara underscored the need for more training of journalists in the country to enable them catch up with evolving challenges and professionalism.

The training was sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), under the theme “Strengthening Accountable and Responsible Journalism by Media Professionals.” Kamara said it was aimed at empowering the 13 participants with skills and knowledge to help breed young journalists.

The participants will form part of the PUL’s database of trainers who will participate in the Union’s long-term training programs. This will enable Liberian journalists to better and professionally write the full Liberian story.

The leadership of the PUL believes that one of the best ways to strengthen accountable and responsible journalism by media professionals is through the establishment of a formal training facility as envisaged in the Union’s three-year strategic direction launched in march of this year.

Meanwhile the PUL has welcomed the United States' State Department’s latest report on the Liberian media. The report, among other things, points out unprofessionalism in the media including publication of planted and paid news stories as well as suppression of stories for fear by some media houses.

Kamara said the report was welcoming and the media should use it to improve, describing it as a positive criticism. He said the media has used the same report in the past to judge the government and others, and it was time for the media itself to see the report in good faith, now that it criticizes them.

Signed: ________________

D. Kaihenneh Sengbeh
Secretary General/PUL