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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Apr 2008 : 06:08:01
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http://www.gainako.com/
A CALL FOR HIGHER STANDARDS
By Demba Baldeh, Editor & Political Commentator
“The higher the standard the better the product”
The recent article titled “When Journalism is the Enemy” written by
Cherno Baba Jallow and published on Gainako on April 10, 2008
and rejoined by several other readers has no doubt awakened us
about some fundamental principles of journalism as a profession. The
general consensus from the readership either for or against the issue
of higher standard of news quality in our online newspapers across
the board is loud and clear: Gambian online newspapers, as echoed
by our respective readers, need some serious revamping if we are to
continue to gain the respect and support of our consumers.
It is an undeniable fact that the reason we continue to invest our resources and energy in reporting the
daily news and informing the public is simply because we have consumers who visit our various sites
daily to get their dose of news. It is equally a fact that these consumers are in a better position to judge
the quality and substance of the news and reports we supply daily.
Similarly, the satisfaction and/or frustrations of our general readership on the impact of the news and
reports we carry on about our country – The Gambia, must be something we treat with exceptional
seriousness anytime we sit on that keyboard to put out a report. The stakes are always high anytime
our people and nation becomes the subject of discussion. This is all the more true because we, the
people, form the bedrock of our nation. We should individually be great ambassadors of our great
country anywhere and in anything we are engaged. It is therefore the duty of every good citizen to
carry forward that great name of The Gambia, “The smiling Coast of Africa”.
The media both at home and in the Diaspora has a fundamental role to play in reshaping our society
and advancing the rule of law and human rights in our young “democracy”. Unfortunately, the current
regime has shown little or no appreciation for the role of the media in the socio-economic
development of our people. The environment is not conducive for a sustainable free press. As a result,
newspapers at home and other young aspiring journalists had to find alternative ways to continue to
educate our people with what is going on in our nation ruled by a government which, to put it nicely,
has a close door policy. This restrictive policy had to force media practitioners to find other means to
bring news and opinion to the community. This led to the birth of the current online newspapers and
blogs.
The emergence of these online newspapers has undoubtedly brought enormous opportunities for the
advancement of democracy and press freedom in our nation. In this era of the information gateway
where anyone at any time or anywhere can access information, it is crucial that the information that
they access is of quality and carries with it a positive and uplifting message. The online newspapers
have thousands if not millions of readers daily that not only rely on us for the daily news, but also count
on us to give them educational materials that make a difference in their lives or the lives of their
children.
In dispensing that noble duty, we must exercise diligence, maturity and most importantly, an absolute
professionalism guided by principles of decency and uncompromising fairness and balance. We must
also realize how the personal and social costs of the information we provide affect the daily lives of
others and our nation. The power of print media and online publicity carries with it a powerful image
that may go a long way towards impacting society.
Our daily task as practicing journalists or administrators of media outlets as others put it may seem to
us as volunteerism that we choose to engage in at our own expense. However, since we have self
-appointed ourselves to be the watch dogs of public officials and government, it is important that we
also conduct ourselves professionally and submit ourselves for periodic public scrutiny. Besides, when
we take up the task of exposing a regime that strives to suppress its people in the name of patriotism
or development, we must try to be credible at all times.
It is a fundamental part of our duties to train and educate ourselves continuously in our profession with
an aim to grow and make ourselves better reporters or editors and to keep pace with intellectual
challenges that may arise in disseminating vital information to our readership. Today’s media
consumers are certainly far-more sophisticated than we may think. They are not only willing to
consume the product and give a blind eye, but are also determined to see to it that what they are fed is
of quality and important information.
In passing, we must put ourselves in the shoes of others anytime we are ready to sign off to something
for publicity. We must also remember that we cannot be our own judges on the quality of news we
put out every day. It is therefore essential that we have people within our society who are brave and
willing to call it as they see fit. No single one of us has a monopoly of knowledge over what constitutes
journalism, nor should we put our egos ahead of this noble profession. There is no need for any undue
sensitivity and overly reaction to anything as fundamental as a call for higher standards.
Finally, we at Gainako seek to see the issues differently. We welcome Cherno Baba and others’
clarion calls for higher standards and ethical journalism as an important challenge for us to continue to
learn and grow as young aspiring professionals. We also wish to reaffirm that in order for us to win the
moral battle against a suppressive regime, we must not resort to the same tactics the regime employs
to silence its critics.
At the same time, we also wish to call on those seasoned journalists and other interested Gambians to
step up to the plate and take up the challenge and redirect the face of Gambian journalism. We believe
that a vacuum of responsible journalism has existed in the Gambian media far too long. As a result,
where seasoned members of the media fraternity are reluctant to rejoin the fight for our common
good, precedence is bound to take a not so desirable shape and direction. It is therefore our collective
responsibility to see to it that the bar is raised high at all times. Together, our moral convictions and
desire for decency far supersede anything else.
We leave you with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “I cannot be what I ought to be until
you are what you ought to be.”
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"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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buba
57 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2008 : 12:06:43
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I cannot agree more with you Mr. Baldeh. It is important to be truthful, professional and decent in our writings. There is no harm or shame in running a rejoinder about an ealier erroneous headline...infact, if anything, it makes one even more dependable in the future.
But overall, they are doing a wonderful job; keep it up guys. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2008 : 20:34:02
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Cherno Baba Jallow´s (C.B.J) article "When Journalism is the Enemy", Gainako April 10th, 2008, is a wake-up call that goes beyond Online Newspapers and their self-styled journalism/reporting. Thanks to the communication revolution. Whatever prompted his position, whatever validity his critics might have, the issue call for a fraction of self-search, self-reflection. On the other hand, those days are long gone when the preacher commands his addressees; “do as I say and not as I do!” Spent are the days when members of the congregation are spectators and not active participants in the reliability scrutiny.
This communication revolution, when everything seems speedy and the only means forward is self-proclamation, gives occasion to re-evaluate not only professionalism but also the concept of time and space. The question we are faced is how we compensate the lost notion of distance and whether the principle of “immediacy”: that the nearer an event the more newsworthy, is still valid. The perception of time and space has changed therefore news reporting is based on the relationship a reporter has to an event and not how near (distance) the event is to the reporter. However, cautiousness is a very appropriate tool.
Nevertheless, that is not the point here, rather focus is on C.B.J`s observation, which insinuates a bigger misconception, the catch-22 of professionalism amid us Gambians. It is when self-proclamation becomes overwhelming to the limit of becoming unhelpful, that we are obliged to scrutinise its validity and its root in our society and discuss its disadvantage to our aims and objectives for development.
It is widespread that people claim being doctors, lawyers, accountants, managers, students, businesspersons, civil servants, politicians, police, security personnel etc. without acquiring any formal training, on-the-job-training or classroom training. However, self-given titles post great risks for existence. What I intend to discuss here is the possible origin of the idea of self-proclamation in our society, by remembering my own growing-up, along with recalling some events connected to self-proclaimed professionals.
Blowing ones own trumpet, self-proclamation is a human virtue that did not start with cyber journalists or cyberjournalism nor initiated by the communication revolution. It is typical but not genetic. From where is this egocentric and self-fulfilling disposition? Surely, not a genetic disposition hence our grandparents had selfless collective social and economic relations and being humble and honest are some of the benchmarks of good neighborliness and a yardstick for good human being. Subsequently the self –proclamation virus is from our, environment’s learning process, an educational system that excludes our everyday reality and history. The self-proclamation virus I claim is implicit in the education mechanism, in Mary’s little lamb whose face was white like snow and not bright like morning sun, or grey like rice-field-mud, or brownish like groundnut-field-soil. The question is complex and there is no absolute answer. One thing is certain; it is a toubabou karanding virus. Therefore, to get a grasp of where the virus infection began calls for focusing the microscope on the school and daily activities of the toubabou karandingo therein.
The school day begins at home, a completely different environment from the school. The aesthetics manifested by the school-uniform sets a difference between us going to school and they farm workers, and those going to Koran school, they and we demarcation therefore establishes at a very early stage of our upbringing. Thereby a hierarchy between the traditional collective consciousness and individual consciousness is established. With the help of transition rites in songs, content of textbooks and other behavioural coaching the hierarchy is strengthen in the school system.
From the morning assembly to the classroom the pupils sing: “We are all going to our classes with clean hands and faces to pay great attention to what we are told. Oh… learning is better than silver and gold.” The song transits the singer from normality into the roll of a pupil and signals the beginning of no vernacular (no speaking of mother tongue) principle. In the classroom, the pupils learn everything else except that pertaining to the everyday reality they live in. I remember the most popular teacher in the school was the geography teacher who specialised on the American Tundra region. We loved him; his lessons were always about the weather seasons in America and Europe nothing about our seasons or climate. Another song that ends the school day goes: “Our daily school is over we are going home, goodbye, goodbye teacher, we hope to see again.” This song transits the pupils back to their everyday reality and signals the end of the no vernacular period. Back at home, the pupils find themselves in the everyday reality, again (a child of two cities).
Going to school is a privilege, pupils are treated different and feel different at home, they are exempted from farming even whereas they work, less is expected from them than others who are in the same age. Discontinuing school at primary school level, or junior secondary or secondary high, or technical, or form one, or upper six, or college or university does not change belonging to the toubabou karandingo category. The dilemma of the primary school dropout is not learning other skills like farming and yet has no qualification to get office jobs but still belongs to the category of the “educated”. On the other hand, this false title came to hunt many in the mid 90s in the form of a new phenomenon call “nervseh”. Which befall only young unemployed youths: presumably, those inevitably accepting the false title, educated. The symptom of this disorder is insistent obsession with thoughts of going abroad, toubaboudu. The fatigue from restlessness, the false hope plus other social shortcomings results in psychoses, nervseh.
The early 80´s witnessed another very serious incident caused by self-proclamation. A gentleman from toubaboudu (a been-to), proclaimed himself a medical doctor and people entrusted him with their lives, which turned out to be a deadly misfortune for some and a lifetime injure for others. On arrival in Gambia, the said gentleman made a tour of the provinces. He went from village to village injecting patience with his bewitched malsterilized syringes. By the time, he was through with his rampage many healthy persons lost their lives and many more left lamed for life. Would the outcome of this unethical expedition have been the same had the gentleman had a proper training? No, because the danger of using un-sterilized syringes is a basic professional knowledge, thumb rules of medical expertise.
I met a classmate the last time I was in Gambia, 2008. While we exchanged greetings he told me; “I am a doctor now”. I was very glad for him for I knew him a hardworking man who took good care of his family. When where you citified, I asked. Oh, no, not like that, I mean, I have a motorbike, travel upcountry and sell medicine, he said. What kind of medicine do you sell or and administer, I asked. Everything, from tablets to injections, he said. Oh… was my reaction, from the stunt. Nevertheless, I managed parting with him cordially. When I later complained to my friend walking with me: these kinds of doctors are in abundance here, he replied, without a grain of surprise in his voice.
Self-proclaimed professionals lack basic merits. Professional qualities are not just rules and regulations but achievements gotten through many years of on- the- job- training or through a form of classroom training. The training provides not only the occupational capability but also gives a sense of maturity to detach work from pleasure, private from public and gives the insight that, rights come with responsibilities, priorities with obligations, possibilities with limitations. Hocus-pocus has never been a way to achieve professional qualities.
Is it possible that this, self-fulfilling, self-proclamation, self-entitlement, self, self, self is the virus eating up the spirit of our collective identity? If so, we need a concoction, an immunization and an antivirus program to remedy the deterioration. This chronic infection hinders national development and the sense of national pride.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 21 Apr 2008 21:38:46 |
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Dalton1
3485 Posts |
Posted - 21 Apr 2008 : 23:37:27
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Bro Buba & Janko,
thanks!!!
Your indepth analysis is very accurate.
Thanks though! I believe this article of yours needs to travel far & further.
Regards,
Dalton. |
"There is no god but Allah (SWT); and Muhammad (SAW)is His last messenger." shahadah. Fear & Worship Allah (SWT) Alone! (:
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 00:49:57
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Dalton1,
Thanks, for leveling it all up in yours, too |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 07:07:36
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It is very true, Gambian journalists, especially online ones need to be more professional in the way they do their job. I have always taken every news item (especially news from the online papers) with some grain of salt, perhaps that is how it should be. Be critical of everything you read!
There is no guarantee in journalism that what is being reported as the news is the whole truth and will always be the whole truth. It is legitimate that journalists report the news as they see it and know it. There are different types of journalists needless to say, but many of our online journalists are advocacy (activist) journalists, therefore their relentless attack on the powers-to-be is not hard to understand.
It is unfortunate that C.B.J's condemnation of the Gambian journalists, especially those in the diaspora is provoked by the publication of his putative relative Sarjo Jallow's marital problems.
While it is legitimate and welcome to question the professional ethics and integrity of our journalists, I am apprehensive of the motives of C.B.J.'s attack on Gambian journalists. What is C.B.J.'s cause of action? The crux of the matter of his complaint is simply that Sarjo Jallow is negatively reported in the Freedom Newspaper. That to me is illegitimate for the fact that Sarjo Jallow is a public official; he is not entitled to any privacy because what he does in private is for every reason a public matter. I know Mr. Jallow for a long time (at the education dept), and I strongly admired him.
While this issue raised by C.B.J.'s article should be an opportunity for all our journalists and reporters to learn from, I feel that any legitimate call for journalistic even-handedness must consider latent journalistic hypocricy by the government-controlled media at home as well as the secretive and abusive nature of the Gambian government and its officials.
It might be afterall better to err on the side of journalistic heavy-handedness than the lack of government scrutiny. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 22 Apr 2008 08:03:10 |
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MADIBA
United Kingdom
1275 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 11:24:27
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Kay,
It may be true to say Public officials lives are not private. BUt is it legitimate to fabricate lies abt them or their families? I will tell you of a story that involved a particular journalist(name witheld) who has been used by a former MD of a certain PE to launch a smear campaign against his sucessor. This journalist made sure that this man got bad press when ever possible. The sacked MD when he knew was losing his fight to get back his former office, he jumped on board the APRC bandwagon.
This Sarjo Jallow, i came to know him as well when he worked at the Ministry of Education as Secretary to the Scholarship board. He did a wonderful job there. He was down-to-earth then, a pragmatist and conscientious worker.
If CBJ in reality sent that article becos his distant relative has been attacked, then thats unfortunate. It may have been mere coincedence, but his article appeared at a time when many like me were beginning to question the objectives of some of the online outfits. I honestly felt that they are being under-utilized and they could have done better, with better news or other columns. I guess the media should be out to Inform, Educate and Entertain.
Yousou Ndour, said, in his piece, JOURNALISTE LEEGAYYE YAAM LA DEFF, BUU KO NGANYYI, WAAY MOMIIT WARRU SEH WANYYI WALLA YOKKA. (Journalist is doing his job,dnt criticize him, but he should neither under report nor sensationalize his reports)
Janko,
Thats was a brilliant piece. Thumbs up! |
madiss |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 12:18:05
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| Kay not meaning to be funny but i thought the Freedom Newspaper story states that Sarjo Jallow has been living a private life in Scandinavia for the past few years, so why is he Joe public or does your list include ex-public officials as well? |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 18:12:50
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Kay
Like Karl Max said : Umnibus Dubi tan dum (doubt everything). I am one of the doubting Thomases. Even Youssou Ndour said so. Listen to his music called LIVE TV you will learn to be critical always. But at the same time, i dont censore people. Thats up to each individual to stand by his or her story and be allowed to speak freely.
Freedom of speech is an integral part of a democracy. By censoring people, we have taken upon ourselves as having the morale qualities that others dont. What becomes morale to me may not be to another. That is why we have a constitutional right to associate or not to associate with any party.
The best way to avoid the rumour mill, is for citizens to have access to information. If that is not possible, citizens might create one for themselves and whether good or bad, it goes to serve a political constituency that is hungry for it.
Again too, i think there is a big gap between Gambians in the diaspora and Gambians at home in terms where they want to take our country. This gap has to be narrowed for there to be effective change and progress.
Well then again, what do i know? I am no journalist just have interest discussing on fora. I will leave it to more qualified journalist to educate me.
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“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 18:56:18
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"Self-proclaimed professionals lack basic merits. Professional qualities are not just rules and regulations but achievements gotten through many years of on- the- job- training or through a form of classroom training. The training provides not only the occupational capability but also gives a sense of maturity to detach work from pleasure, private from public and gives the insight that, rights come with responsibilities, priorities with obligations, possibilities with limitations. Hocus-pocus has never been a way to achieve professional qualities.
Is it possible that this, self-fulfilling, self-proclamation, self-entitlement, self, self, self is the virus eating up the spirit of our collective identity? If so, we need a concoction, an immunization and an antivirus program to remedy the deterioration. This chronic infection hinders national development and the sense of national pride." -Courtesy of Janko
Good, better best, Janko.
You have punched the hardest and most unbiased treatment of this pertinent and yet dormant subject. Things start long way. When we have sincere desire to correct a situation, there will always be good ways of going about it. We start somewhere and look for better ways. The best way is to dig up for root causes. That is exactly what you have done Janko.
About the thundering noise over Online Gambian media front, there is no smoke without fire. If it takes a crude president to misrule a whole country, what protocols do you expect? In all sincere regards, our president is not standing by what we all agreed and call our constitution. He is dispensing the important role of president in crude ways. It is fitting to have him encounter some crude reporters whatever names we give them. Those who feel good enough to identify gaps, they must stand to the challenge of doing better. Since none of us are paying to keep the bad reporters (journalists) the better ones among us have a duty to mount their own platforms and let Gambian readers choose where they want to be. There is no taxation in cyberspace until such time that better people ascend above the clouds to colonise space.
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Karamba |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 20:24:30
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| There is no smoke without fire!! True, true!! But at the same time you do not extinguish fire with fire. Two wrongs don't make a right. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 21:03:11
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Thanks for the insight
“I honestly felt that they are being under-utilized and they could have done better, with better news or other columns.” Madiba
“It might be afterall better to err on the side of journalistic heavy-handedness than the lack of government scrutiny.” Kayjatta
“The best way to avoid the rumour mill, is for citizens to have access to information.” Kondorong
“Those who feel good enough to identify gaps, they must stand to the challenge of doing better.” Karamba
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 21:38:53
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quote:
Originally posted by shaka
There is no smoke without fire!! True, true!! But at the same time you do not extinguish fire with fire. Two wrongs don't make a right.
I know that sometimes, it takes a fire to fight a fire. Ask the Fire Officers in Banjul. That happens all the time. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 21:48:46
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Truth, Kondorong
In real life, bush fire only lights bright when darkness falls. During day light, you only see smoke from distance. Experiment proves that anything bitter is less severe than anything else more severe when tasted by the same tongue. When you chew bitter stuff, that is not the best time to taste salt. You will surely fail the cook. "A stitch in time saves nine." |
Karamba |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 22:02:03
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| You closet militant are dangerous. I hope you don't own no guns!!!! |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 22 Apr 2008 : 22:51:52
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quote:
Originally posted by shaka
You closet militant are dangerous. I hope you don't own no guns!!!!
Dont crack me up
"Closet militant"but that in itself is harmless. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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