Happy Anniversary to the Oracle
From Peter Quaqua (former President/ West African Journalist Association)
Congratulations to Festus Poquie and E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor for keeping the vision of The Oracle News Daily alive for three years. Building and sustaining an independent news platform requires courage, persistence, and a deep commitment to the public interest. Their journey from modest beginnings to becoming a respected voice in Liberia’s media landscape deserves recognition.
A democratic society depends on a press that is both fearless and responsible—one that asks hard questions, reports with fairness and evidence, and helps citizens hold power to account.
At a time when there are growing attempts in official circles to shrink civic space through efforts to recriminalize speech offenses, the role of ethical and principled journalism is more important than ever.
Best wishes to the editorial team of The Oracle as you continue contributing to informed public debate and democratic accountability in Liberia.
When Ink Refuses to Drown: The Oracle at Three
A Tribute by an Ardent Admirer, Sherman C. SEEQUEH
There are moments in the life of a nation when courage quietly takes the form of ink and paper—when conviction travels not by noise but by the disciplined cadence of the printed word. Over the past three years, The Oracle News Daily has stood as one of those rare voices in Liberia’s public square: bold, thoughtful, and unmistakably committed to the service of truth.
It is therefore fitting to pay tribute to the two young and enterprising minds whose vision brought this remarkable platform to life—Festus Poquie and E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor. With ingenuity, wit, and an unmistakable flair for style, they have built more than a newspaper; they have nurtured a living forum of ideas—one that questions with courage, reports with clarity, and engages the national conversation with intellectual discipline.
Their achievement becomes even more admirable when one considers the terrain they have had to navigate. The traditional newspaper landscape today is not the fertile ground it once was. It is a media terrain rapidly shifting toward the immediacy and turbulence of social media—a space where speed often outruns verification and noise competes with thoughtful journalism.
At the same time, the institutional lifeline that once sustained newspapers—public advertisement commitments—has too often been treated with troubling indifference. Government’s lackadaisical posture toward honoring these commitments has, in many ways, been quietly and bloodlessly asphyxiating sections of the independent press.
Yet, amid these shifting sands and tightening pressures, these young journalists have managed to keep their heads above the waters—and in remarkable style. With dignity, persistence, and quiet resolve, they have sustained a publication that continues to inform, provoke thought, and contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s democratic conversation.
Equally deserving of recognition is the remarkable layout acumen of the editorial team—deliberate intent to supply creativity to its pages. In an era when many newspapers struggle merely to remain visible, The Oracle has managed to remain not only distinctive but visually delightful. Page after page reflects careful design, balance, and creativity. The result is a newspaper that is not simply read but genuinely pleasing—almost adorable—to hold in one’s hands, reminding us that journalism is not only about words and facts, but also about the craft through which they are presented.
For in any democracy, the press must remain both mirror and conscience—reflecting the aspirations of the people while holding authority accountable. At a time when troubling murmurs emerge in certain official quarters about narrowing civic space and revisiting restraints on speech, the role of ethical, principled journalism becomes not merely relevant but indispensable.
The Oracle has demonstrated that journalism practiced with integrity can elevate public debate, illuminate national challenges, and strengthen democratic accountability.
On this third anniversary, I extend heartfelt congratulations to journalists Festus Poquie, E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor, and the entire editorial team of The Oracle News Daily. May your pens remain sharp, your pages fearless, and your commitment to truth unwavering.
May The Oracle continue to rise—edition after edition—as a quiet yet powerful beacon of thoughtful journalism in Liberia.
