A cautious call by the Reporters Association of Liberia(RAL) to all state actors, governments across the world and individuals in particular to treat journalists with dignity and respect is prudent and must be heeded for the betterment of the noble profession.
RAL, whose call was contained in a statement issued in Monrovia sometimes ago, among other things, asserted that those who practice journalism do that with the intention of providing services to their society, and as such, they need to be given due respect like any other member of any given society.
We join RAL in also calling on all, particularly state actors and governments to treat journalists with respect and dignity as they are also humans.
We specifically mention state actors and governments on account that they are the ones, who in most, if not all cases, treat journalists as though they are their whippings dogs.
This is evident by the incessant attacks on journalists around the world, with our country, Liberia, being no exception. The Press Union of Liberia(PUL), which is regarded as the umbrella organization of journalists in the country, had and continues to document many attacks on journalists, with the doers, in most instances, going with impunity.
Most of these attacks happen when the journalists carry out their reportorial duties. To this end, all state actors, governments and others must stop the attacks on journalists and treat them with dignity and respect.
