– World Bank Liberia Country Manager Urges Liberian Media to Uphold Integrity
MONROVIA, Liberia – In an address framing a free and responsible press as a cornerstone of national progress, the World Bank’s Liberia Country Manager, Georgia Wallen, has called on the nation’s publishers to hold fast to core values, invest in the next generation, and recognize their pivotal role in shaping Liberia’s future.
Wallen spoke on Saturday, August 29, at the induction ceremony of the new leadership of the Publishers Association of Liberia (PAL). The event, attended by high-ranking government officials including Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung and Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah, highlighted the critical intersection between media, governance, and development.
Setting a tone of collaborative urgency, Wallen stated, “From the standpoint of the World Bank, we believe that development is everybody’s business! Public information is key for accountability and transparency.”
Her remarks, delivered to an audience of government officials, development partners, and media stakeholders, provided a three-point charge to the newly inducted PAL officials.
Wallen first underscored the necessity for the association’s leadership to be guided by its core values of “excellence, dedication, integrity, and the importance of community.” She positioned these values as essential anchors in a media landscape rapidly transforming under the pressures of digital and social media.
“You are at the forefront of adapting to the changing narratives of the new media,” she noted, acknowledging the dual challenge of leveraging digital tools while maintaining the integrity of traditional reporting. She urged the new officials to use these values to promote “collaboration and innovation along with creativity and professionalism.”
In her second point, Wallen turned to Liberia’s most potent asset: its youth. Citing UNFPA data that over 75% of Liberians are under 35, she pointed to the significant number of young journalists, photographers, and videographers as a unique strength for the sector.
She made a direct appeal to the new PAL leadership: “During your tenure, make it a priority to harness this unique strength. Investing time and mentorship in the next generation… will position these sectors at the leading edge of change.” This investment, she argued, is crucial for cultivating a lasting “commitment to excellence and truth-telling.”
Most significantly, Wallen framed the publishers’ work as fundamental to sustaining Liberia’s peace and promoting its development. She emphasized their role in promoting transparency and accountability, stating, “Publishers are an integral part of society, and your various audiences depend largely on you for adequately informing them.”
Linking this directly to the World Bank’s mission, she explained that informed citizen engagement is a catalyst for effective development. “We have learned over time that development is better when citizens are informed and engaged,” Wallen said, connecting media freedom to the World Bank’s own policies on Access to Information and Citizen Engagement.
She concluded by previewing the World Bank Group’s new Country Partnership Framework for Liberia, focused on “building foundations for more and better jobs,” a goal she implied is inextricably linked to a vibrant and responsible media ecosystem.
