Published: October 11, 2025
MONTICELLO, Minn. — The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) has denounced calls by the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA) for a licensing system for journalists, describing the proposal as a direct threat to press freedom and free expression in Liberia.
The warning follows remarks by LNBA Secretary-General Bornor V. Forkeyoh during the Press Union of Liberia’s (PUL) 61st anniversary celebration on October 1, 2025, in Monrovia, where he advocated for a “licensing regime” for journalists in the country.
In a sharply worded statement, ALJA said that while it supports professionalism and accountability in the media, licensing journalists would open the door to censorship and political manipulation.
“Licensing journalists undermines constitutional rights and creates opportunities for silencing independent voices,” ALJA President Joey Kennedy said. “Journalism must remain free from restrictive licensing schemes that can be misused to erode democracy.”
ALJA emphasized that journalism, unlike law or medicine, is a constitutional pillar of democracy, grounded in the right to free speech and access to information. It warned that licensing could be weaponized to muzzle critics and curtail investigative reporting.
“Licensing journalists is a slippery slope toward state control of the media and an assault on Liberia’s hard-won democratic freedoms,” the statement read. “Professional standards are best advanced through training, ethical codes, and self-regulation, not restrictive laws.”
The U.S.-based association called on the Press Union of Liberia, civil society, and international partners to firmly oppose any effort to introduce licensing requirements. ALJA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ethical journalism, media development, and independent reporting in Liberia.
“Our democracy depends on a free, fearless, and independent press,” Kennedy said. “Any attempt to license journalists is an attempt to weaken that foundation.”
Founded by Liberian media professionals in the United States, ALJA advocates for press freedom, professional journalism, and good governance in Liberia. The organization routinely engages with policymakers and civil society to defend journalists’ rights and strengthen media institutions across the country.
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