MONROVIA — World Bank Group Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen delivered keynote remarks celebrating the 62nd Anniversary of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), framing independent, credible media as a fundamental cornerstone of national development, accountability, and sustainable growth.
Speaking under the anniversary theme, “Empowering Independent Media for Democracy, Accountability and Sustainable Development in Liberia,” Wallen extended warm congratulations to the PUL leadership and members, acknowledging the union’s enduring role across Liberia’s history. She noted that over six decades of service reflect not only past achievements, but also present responsibilities and future possibilities.
In her address, Wallen divided the media’s vital role in Liberia into three distinct perspectives: past resilience, present responsibility, and future impact.
Reflecting on the past, she commended Liberian journalists for serving as the eyes, ears, and conscience of society through good times and challenging periods. Citing the World Bank’s 2002 World Development Report, Building Institutions for Markets, she emphasized that credibility remains the primary foundation of journalism—built on a sustained commitment to truth, transparency, verification, and accountability.
Turning to the media’s present role, Wallen stressed that physical infrastructure alone—such as roads, electricity, and digital networks—is insufficient for sustainable development without trusted information, transparency, and public confidence. She highlighted how professional journalism aids economic growth, attracts private investment, and enhances public understanding of policy reforms.
Addressing the contemporary digital landscape, Wallen pointed to findings from the 2026 World Development Report on The Promise of Artificial Intelligence. She cautioned that while social media and AI technologies accelerate the speed of information, they simultaneously heighten the risk of misinformation, making rigorous, factual, and locally grounded journalism more indispensable than ever.
Looking toward the future, the Country Manager challenged Liberian media professionals to focus on long-term national trends, specifically referencing census projections that indicate Liberia’s population will reach over 8 million people by 2042. She urged journalists to investigate the strategic investments needed today to prepare for that future, utilizing data from incoming national statistical surveys led by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to tell meaningful stories about ordinary citizens.
Wallen concluded by emphasizing the unique advantage local journalists hold across Liberia’s counties, districts, and communities to amplify the voices of farmers, youth, women, and entrepreneurs, reaffirming that independent media is not an obstacle to national progress, but an essential component of development infrastructure.