{"id":5066,"date":"2026-02-25T06:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T06:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalistsforchrist.org\/?p=5066"},"modified":"2026-02-25T07:50:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T07:50:09","slug":"journalism-needs-men-and-women-of-conscience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalistsforchrist.org\/index.php\/2026\/02\/25\/journalism-needs-men-and-women-of-conscience\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Journalism needs men and women of conscience’"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Oluwaseyi Elizabeth Jimoh<\/div>\n
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Against the backdrop of patronage journalism and censorship in the media profession, Liberian journalist and media development specialist, Mr. George Sarwah Stewart has charged media professionals to embrace ethical principles, warning that ethical journalism in Africa will not be saved by codes of conduct but by men and women of conscience.<\/div>\n
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Mr. Stewart gave the charge while speaking on the topic, \u201cEthical Journalism in a Time of Pressure: A Charge to Journalists of Faith\u201d during the recent Journalists for Christ (JFC) monthly fellowship.<\/div>\n
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He lamented that ethical journalism is heavily challenged because \u201cthe pressure is intense, survival is uncertain, and support systems are weak,\u201d noting that despite these pressures, journalists of faith carry a double responsibility.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAs journalists of faith, the pressure is doubled because we have two guiding principles\u2014 professional responsibility and spiritual accountability,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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ETHICAL JOURNALISM UNDER PRESSURE<\/div>\n
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According to him, ethical journalism is beneficial not only to journalists in Liberia but to practitioners everywhere. He stressed that journalists must rely on solid facts, fact-checked documents, and credible sources\u2014 not propaganda.<\/div>\n
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He explained that when a story touches on political, economic, or religious power, subtle negotiations and pressures from \u201cthe powers that be\u201d often arise before publication. In such moments, a faithful journalist may wrestle with conscience\u2014 but not with facts.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThese interruptions play on the conscience before publication and may betray one\u2019s calling and public trust,\u201d he said, noting that investigative journalists frequently face such dilemmas.<\/div>\n
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He described the decisive moment as one where a journalist might think, “If I don\u2019t publish, I might lose my job.” However, he advised those struggling with conscience\u2014 not facts, to choose publication.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u201cIf you take the money, you may survive\u2014 but at what cost?\u201d he queried.<\/div>\n
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Mr. Stewart emphasized that ethical journalism is not collapsing because journalists lack knowledge or training. Rather: \u201cEthical journalism is heavily challenged because the pressure is intense, survival is uncertain, and support systems are weak\u2014 not because journalists do not know the rules.\u201d<\/div>\n
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PRINCIPLES FOR JOURNALISTS OF FAITH<\/div>\n
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He reiterated that journalists of faith operate under two pillars: professional responsibility and spiritual accountability, quoting Proverbs 4:23 and urging practitioners to guard their hearts.<\/div>\n
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\u201cCourage comes from conviction, not just training,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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He reminded journalists that truth remains the first obligation of the profession.<\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u201cJournalism is a truth-telling discipline. It exists because truth matters. Without truth, there is no journalism. The first obligation of journalism is to the truth. Truth is indispensable.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Referencing Exodus 20:16 and Proverbs 12:23, he emphasized that truth is not optional for journalists.<\/div>\n
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\u201cYou cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve public interest and political interest at the same time,\u201d he cautioned.<\/div>\n
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According to the Secretary of the African Christian Journalists Network, the moment journalism becomes a tool for power, tribe, religion, or personal gain, it loses its soul.<\/div>\n
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ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE<\/div>\n
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He stressed that faith-based professionals must not compromise truth, adding that accountability\u2014 including correcting errors and owning mistakes\u2014 is indispensable to good journalism.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhen journalists suppress truth for money, fear, or favor, the damage is communal, not just personal,\u201d he warned.<\/div>\n
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He urged practitioners to defend the rights of the poor and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, rather than amplify only politicians or elites.<\/div>\n
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\u201cJournalism that emphasizes politicians but ignores market women, rural communities, and victims of abuse may appear professional, but it is not just,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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CHALLENGES IN THE AFRICAN MEDIA SPACE<\/div>\n
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Mr. Stewart acknowledged the struggles journalists face in Africa, including poor pay, political ownership of media institutions, patronage journalism, censorship, and safety risks.<\/div>\n
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He noted that social media rewards speed over truth, increasing misinformation and pressure on journalists.<\/div>\n
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However, he maintained that ethical journalism cannot rest on individual effort alone, calling on institutions to rise to the challenge.<\/div>\n
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Highlighting answers to key questions during the fellowship, he addressed how journalism can honor Christ.<\/div>\n
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He explained that honoring Christ does not mean inserting Bible verses into stories or protecting religious institutions,but reflecting Christlike character through journalistic conduct\u2014 loving truth, respecting human dignity, checking facts, and refusing lies.<\/div>\n
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On maintaining ethical standards under pressure, he advised: \u201cPressure is your real test. Decide your boundaries before the pressure comes.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He encouraged journalists to determine in advance which stories they would never suppress, regardless of cost.<\/div>\n
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\u201cPressure does not mean you are failing; often it means you are doing something right,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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On being light in the newsroom, he said light does not announce itself but shows direction. Journalists can be light through honesty, compassion, respect for colleagues, and refusal to gossip or manipulate.<\/div>\n
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\u201cJournalism does not require perfection, but direction,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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A CALL TO CONSISTENCY<\/div>\n
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He challenged participants to remain consistent in choosing truth.<\/div>\n
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\u201cChoosing truth is consistency. Ethical journalism refuses to normalize corruption. It is not dramatic or loud, but faithful and steady\u2014 that is how light survives in dark places.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Reiterating his central message, Mr. Stewart said: \u201cEthical journalism in Africa will not be saved by codes of conduct but by men and women of conscience.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He concluded by emphasizing on the need and nature of truth, quoting\u00a0 John 8:32: \u201cYou shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free, while emphasizing how “this fellowship is not just to inspire, but to resolve\u2014 to tell the truth, stand firm, and practice ethical journalism that honors both the profession, and faith in Jesus Christ.<\/div>\n
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CLICK TO READ FULL TEXT OF MESSAGE: A Biblical And Ethical Journalism In A Time Of Pressure – News Public Trust<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Against the backdrop of patronage journalism and censorship in the media profession, Liberian journalist and media development specialist, Mr. George Sarwah Stewart has charged media professionals to embrace ethical principles, warning that ethical journalism in Africa will not be saved by codes of conduct but by men and women of conscience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,6],"tags":[331,16],"class_list":["post-5066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insight","category-news","tag-code-of-ethics","tag-journalists"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t