-Former VOA Correspondent Warns Liberian Journalists
By Darius Karngar
Monrovia — A veteran Liberian journalist has issued a passionate call for his colleagues to recommit to the foundational principles of ethical journalism, warning against the rising influence of social media.
Mr. Winston Monboe, a former longtime correspondent for the Voice of America (VOA), urged journalists to uphold the core values of integrity, independence, and accuracy in an era dominated by digital platforms.
“Social media should not be allowed to control the traditional media,” Mr. Monboe emphasized during a recent guest lecture at the Joe Mulbah Center for Journalism and Public Relations (JMC) at the University of Liberia (UL). “Social media is not the standard for Journalism,” he told students enrolled in the Introduction to Journalism class. “The principles of good Journalism remain the same as traditional media ethics remain at the heart of the practice.”
The JMC, named in honor of the late Professor Joe Wolobah Mulbah, a former Chairman of the UL Communication Department, was recently established to offer advanced diploma and certificate programs in Public Relations and Journalism to media professionals.
Mr. Monboe, who is currently a United Nations staff member in East Africa and is home on a visit, brings a wealth of experience to the topic. He began his career as a senior producer at the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) and Radio Veritas before serving as a VOA correspondent for many years. Sharing his extensive experience covering stories for both local and international outlets, he acknowledged that modern journalists use social media as a tool to process their work and expand their coverage. However, he stressed that it should not dictate their methods.
The veteran journalist underscored that fundamental values like careful listening, thorough fact-verification, and unwavering balance are not optional extras but essential obligations. “Accuracy and fairness are not optional standards but essential obligations that safeguard public trust and strengthen democratic accountability,” he stated.
Mr. Monboe also offered a crucial piece of advice on maintaining objectivity: journalists must avoid cultivating overly close personal relationships with the public officials and prominent figures they cover. He warned that such familiarity can compromise objectivity and erode public credibility. “A journalist’s primary duty is to the truth and to the public,” he said, adding that maintaining a professional distance is critical to preserving independence and integrity.
