Liberia is the first West African country to adopt a law protecting freedom of information. There is real media freedom but the authorities still threaten and intimidate journalists when they criticize the government. Journalists are sentenced to pay exorbitant fines and are then jailed when they fail to pay them. In September 2016, RSF condemned the government’s harassment of Press Union of Liberia Vice President Jallah E. Grayfield after he criticized the Liberia Telecommunications Authority’s decision to close two radio stations. Self-censorship is widespread, and the media steer clear of taboo subjects such as the President’s family and government corruption.