Journalists must ensure that the public is informed towards the brightest and most righteous paths, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The president said this during a video message broadcast during the 'Journalism Award Ceremony 2019' hosted by the Maldives Media Council (MMC), on Tuesday night.

Congratulating the winners if the awards ceremony, President Solih stressed that the Maldives “supports a nonpartisan and competitive atmosphere for journalism”.

Calling on journalists to be “more responsible in the messages they convey to the public, and to assist in nation-building efforts”, the president also highlighted the role of journalists in a modern democracy during his message.

He stated that the responsibility of a journalist “extends beyond delivering the most accurate information to the public and includes ensuring that the public is informed towards the brightest and most righteous paths”.

Solih also highlighted the importance of expanding the role of journalists “in addressing the most critical societal issues, namely substance abuse and religious extremism”. He also urged journalists to play a pivotal role in the efforts to bounce back from the economic distress the country has experienced due to Covid-19.

Speaking to new journalists or those that might be interested in the field, the president urged them to begin their careers “with a positive mindset to make a difference in the nation through their craft”.

The president also noted the dire situation of press freedom in the Maldives when he assumed power in November 2018, and expressed pride that his administration had “successfully eliminated that toxic culture from the Maldives journalism profession”.

President Solih concluded his message after giving assurance that the ongoing work by the government to seek justice in the murders of journalist Ahmed Rilwan and blogger Yameen Rasheed “will continue to prevail”.