The Inquirer (Monrovia)
8 October 2008
The Press Union of Liberia has reprimanded five journalists for ethical misconduct following their admission of guilt in a recent investigative mission to Margibi County .
The reporters had gone to the scene of the massacre of 14 people in a land dispute.
The Union says the journalists confessed during a hearing at the PUL Headquarters on Friday, that they did not treat the story with care when they hastily appeared on talk shows in Monrovia and pass judgment.
The PUL told the journalists that they might have had good intentions to present the hidden truth in the land dispute, but they compromised their mission and ethics by their disclosure of having received money from other interests.
The Union said it is convinced that the reporters were in serious breach of Union 's Code of Ethics and Conduct and has imposed a fine L$2,000 (two thousand Liberian Dollars) each to be paid within 72 hours.
The Union warned that it shall be compared to take tougher actions should the journalists fail to pay the fine in the stipulated time frame.
With the exception of Solomon Ware, who was said to have been out of Monrovia , four of the journalists headed by Bockarie Musa, attend the hearing and promised to go back on the radio to express their regrets.
Others are Norris Karluson, Garmonyou Wilson and Samwar Fallah.
The PUL reminded journalists and the public that it has a mission to defend the professional interest of the media, but will never take kindly the gross abuse of ethics.
The Union therefore restates calls for journalists to remain steadfast in the discharge of their reportorial duties for the good of society.
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