Veteran Liberian journalist John Kollie has called on government officials to stop undermining the media by taking on roles meant for professional journalists.
He expressed concern over the growing trend of officials hosting media platforms, warning that such actions threaten the independence and survival of the profession.
Kollie pointed out that several prominent government figures including Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County, Patrick Honnah, Commissioner of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Mo Ali, Managing Director of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) among others are regular hosts on the popular media program Class Reloaded.
On the show, officials often interview one another and discuss government matters, a practice Kollie says sidelines independent media voices.
“This is wrong. They are denying us our livelihood. This is what we learned to live on,” Kollie said. “Instead of spending their time focusing on government operations, they are on the air all day doing the work of journalists. Leave that to us who chose this profession.”
The veteran journalist argued that such actions not only deprive trained journalists of income but also erode the integrity of the media. “If they are going to do journalists’ work, then what do we eat?” he asked.
Kollie, who also serves as Executive Director of the Liberia Media Development Initiative (LMDI), stressed that if government officials continue taking over media roles, they will have little interest in awarding contracts or opportunities to professional media institutions.
He urged officials to step back and allow journalists to carry out their duties.
“This is our country. We need money to survive, and the media is our chosen profession. By taking over our platforms, you are stealing from us and weakening the independent press,” Verterna John Kollie
