Journalists start Court Reporting training

A total of 25 journalists have commenced a -month intensive court reporting training at the University of The Gambia campus in Kanifing.

Funded by Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is implementing the training in collaboration with the University of The Gambia School of Journalism.

 Saikou Jammeh, GPU secretary general said court reporting has been an essential part of journalism in The Gambia, arguing that there is a gap in terms of skills and competence of journalists who report from the court. “We should understand how to write court matters. Therefore, it most come to your knowledge as to who is who and what can and what cannot be reported.”

He said their intention is to have qualified and responsible journalists in the field more especially court reporters.

Mr. Jammeh said the training targets to correct some of the issues happening in court reporting and more importantly to encourage specialization.

Nana Grey Johnson, Dean of school of Journalism at UTG said court reporting require skills and tools to foster its purpose and the application of corrective measures which, he said will be seen after the training.

He commenced GPU, University of The Gambia and OISWA for the foresight and pro-activeness in ensuring that there is a healthy crop of people who are willing to specialize in court reporting.

He reminded journalists that as court reporters, it is of paramount significance for them to quote and decide styles of words they use in terms of reporting on court cases.