Veteran
journalist and co-publisher of The Point newspaper, Pap Saine, has called on
journalists to avoid reporting hate speech.
He
was speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day training course for
journalists on election reporting organised by Gambia Press Union (GPU) in
partnership with the UNDP.
The
training course attended by 25 journalists from across the country was held at
the Baobab Resort Hotel.
In
his statement to officially open the course, Mr Saine said: “As journalists, we
should avoid reporting hate speech and any remarks that will create problems
for the society, since that will tarnish the image of the Gambian media and
practitioners.
“You
should be factual and accurate in your reporting. Your report should also be
balanced and devoid of sentiments. Unbalanced reports always attract criticism,
and put the press and journalists into disrepute.”
Therefore,
he added, they must always ensure to get all relevant sides in an incident or
matter, before reporting it for the consumption of the general public.
“We all should know that elections in Africa
are associated with tense situations, since all interested parties and
flag-bearers are in desperate race to win the hearts and minds of the
electorate,” he added.
In
that circumstance, he continued, flag-bearers, party supporters and stalwarts
would always be tempted to say anything, that would make the other contenders
look bad or lose popularity so that voters would support and vote for them
instead of their opponents.
He,
therefore, said the training of journalists on how to cover and report
elections is a step in the right direction, as such training courses would hone
the skills and enhance the knowledge of journalists as they execute their noble
duty in society.
“This
training is a good move which will help journalists, especially the young ones,
in their covering and reporting of the electioneering process up to the voting
day and after the results are announced.”
He
further stated: “Journalists should always be professional, and stand ready to
get the facts about an issue so that the report will be credible and
sacrosanct. So, always do the right thing in line with your professional ethics
and principles, and you will be good reporters of elections and everything
else.”
Mr
Saine thanked and commended the organisers and sponsors of the “invaluable”
training workshop for journalists and the Gambian media.
Also
speaking at the training session was Namory Trawally, GPU first vice president,
who said the training course is important as the GPU feels it is necessary to
train Gambian journalists for the forthcoming presidential and general
elections in the country.
“We
feel that when you get the trained personnel in the field, that will limit the
trouble journalists’ encounter in the field.”
GPU,
in collaboration with the UNDP, came together to finance the training course,
and to make sure Gambian journalists are well equipped to cover the December
elections, he went on.
The
training activity targets journalist from all media houses in the country, more
so senior journalists who would be really involved in election coverage, he
added.
The
training course is important to the GPU, which has been doing everything to
make sure Gambian journalists are well prepared to face the challenges of the
democratic process in the country.
“We
believe that GPU, in collaboration with some partners, will try to make sure that
some series of training take place before the election.”
He
said there will be three other training courses to follow, to ensure Gambian
journalists are aware of their roles and duties during elections.
Trawally
said journalists are important during elections, because the masses depend on
them.
“We
want to make sure that by the time the 25 participants leave they will be able
to produce stories that can help the Gambian people during elections.”
He
called on the participants to make good use of the training course, and to be
punctual so they could achieve their goals at the end of the training workshop.
