PAL Threatens Media Block-out Against NEC, UNDP
Forum
Monrovia, Liberia
Distributed by
The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
The advertisement, which was the publication of the Electoral Districts, was done and bills submitted more than two months ago in July 2005.
The Association said despite series of meetings and compromised price thus reducing the bill by 35 % which newspapers were constrained to accept, NEC and UNDP have shown no serious commitment to pay the 65 % agreed.
PAL said this unwarranted delay by the NEC/UNDP to make prompt payment is causing serious financial problem, which has the propensity to undermine the capacity of these media institutions to provide adequate coverage for the 2005 election process.
The publishers of newspapers said they are constrained to take appropriate actions which would also include a news block-out on the National Election Commission and the United Nations Development Program as Wednesday, September 21, 2005 in order to ensure immediate payment.
The Association is calling on all newspapers operating in the country to adhere to the many planned actions intended to pressurize NEC to settle its indebtedness
Publishers have also observed a scheme devised by some UN agencies and international organizations including UNMIL to circumvent and undermine the new advertising rates thereby imposing their own rate at the detriment of the media in Liberia.
The new price structures were adopted following several considerations including the high cost of printing and materials, and a sincere effort to improve media content and conditions of journalists.
