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Momodou
Denmark
11841 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 23:30:19
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GPU ORGANISES ELECTION COVERAGE TRAINING
By Fabakary B. Ceesay & Amie Sanneh
The President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Mr. Madi M.K. Ceesay has indicated that Gambian Journalists have in many ways contributed to good governance in The Gambia, by reporting issues that impact on the citizenry.
Mr. Ceesay made these remarks at the opening of a three day training workshop on election coverage, at the Mansea Hotel, on Monday, 21st August 2006. In his key note address, Mr. Ceesay said the challenge of objectivity, impartiality and balance in journalism is faced daily by journalists, but that there is no test of professionalism greater than those posed in the heat and pressure of a bitterly fought political election. “That is why The Gambia Press Union in collaboration with her partners decided to train journalist in order to equip them for the challenges that lie ahead. Mr. Ceesay noted that elections are also a test of political commitment to democracy; that it is a time when the impulse to manipulate the media and to control information is strongest among parties and political leaders running for office. He narrated that journalists must also provide access to the media so that Citizen’s voice can be heard above the noise of the political debate. He also asserted that there is need to strengthen the capacity of journalists so that they can give objective reporting. ‘ This capacity can be built through training that will enable them to identify the pitfalls and to enforce professional guidelines and rules, which will help them to put al sides of an argument forward, “he said. According to him it will help the Journalist to know the Laws and regulations that should restrain political interest groups from exercising undue influence. ” The exercise of free journalism is an essential part of any credible democracy and journalist must have access to accurate, timely and informed facts and opinions,” he said. He asserted that the press, especially the public media, suffers from manipulation which comes in many forms. “The greatest threat to press freedom is often not in forms of direct control but rather in the creation of an atmosphere in the exercise of journalism whereby self censorship by journalists and editors prevail,” the GPU president asserted. Going further, Mr. Ceesay said, the press needs to be free from coercion from governmental, political or economic control during the electoral process in order to ensure that people are well informed in a bid to make informed choices,” he said. Mr. Ceesay concluded that the training workshop will provide professional assistance to journalists and media organizations to meet the challenge of political and social change.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 74/2006, 6-7 September, 2006
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