The
latest support by the European Union through its Governance Programme, in
collaboration with UNESCO, to the Gambia media deserves huge commendation.
Although
these institutions and others like them, have been rendering assistance to the
education and media sectors of this country, this latest one is meant to give a
serious boost to the media to enable them do their work properly.
The
European Union and UNESCO yesterday handed over a support project worth some
D35 million to media houses in The Gambia, the Gambia Press Union and the
University of The Gambia.
The
bodies have undertaken to give such a support to advance democratic governance
through improving freedom of the press and the quality of information being
disseminated to the population.
The
media houses, including the print and electronic media, the Gambia Press Union,
and the University of The Gambia need adequate support to enable them carry out
their functions and responsibilities professionally for the good and progress
of the society.
Presently,
media houses in this country are struggling to maintain their publications and
staff due to lack of adequate resources, while media practitioners are
seriously in need of capacity development.
Therefore,
the items, which included digital recorders and cameras, desktops, laptops,
printers, external data storage and photocopy machines, are some of right tools
and materials needed by the press.
Training
is an urgent need for media practitioners; hence it must be given priority by
any media outlets in a given society. And that is why we are happy and much
elated by the invaluable support being given to us by bodies and institutions
like the EU and UNESCO.
The
statement of Nelson Mandela, quoted by the EU Ambassador to The Gambia is apt,
to say the least, that is, “The press must be free from state interference. It
must have the economic strength to stand up to the blandishments of government
officials. It must have sufficient independence from vested interests to be
bold and inquiring without fear or favour. It must enjoy the protection of the
constitution, so that it can protect our rights as citizens.’’
Building
such a press, therefore, needs the thorough support of independent institutions
and blocs like the EU, UNESCO, the AU and other independent bodies.
The
Gambia media outlets and practitioners really need a thorough capacity-building
project, like the upcoming project of the EU governance programme, to be more
professional in receiving and imparting information, both offline and online.
We,
therefore, would like to thank the benefactors of this support project as we
hope to realise the fruits of it.
Thank
you very much the European Union, UNESCO and the other hands on deck.
“Quality
journalism enables citizens to make informed decisions about their society as
it also works to expose injustice, corruption and the abuse of power.”
Gwang-Chol
Chang
