Amidst interesting newspaper articles, radio and television airtimes which have been consumed largely by a debate as to whether there is press freedom in Liberia following the libel judgment against Journalist Rodney Sieh of FrontPage Africa, United States Ambassador accredited near Monrovia, Deborah R. Malac, has asserted that Liberia has one of the freest environment for press freedom in the world. There have been diverse views from several international institutions and local civil society groups, with some calling the issue an attack on press freedom while others have called on the President to intervene in a judicial matter between private citizens.
Although the US Ambassador was not speaking to the issue of Journalist Sieh's imprisonment but she reminded the Liberian media that incomplete or inaccurate reporting of developments in sensitive sectors can sometimes inadvertently inflame tensions and complicate reaching consensus.
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