NEA organises 'Media Clinic' for journalists

Gambian journalists, on 17th September 2010, benefited from a day 'Media clinic' under the auspices of the African Network for Environment Journalists (ANEJ)) Gambia Chapter.

Organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA), in collaboration with ANEJ, the media clinic was held to brief journalists about environmental issues.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Executive Director of the NEA at the agency's head office in Kanifing, Bully Dibba, Director of Administration and Finance, recognised the importance of media in information dissemination. "Nothing can be achieved in the NEA's environment campaign without partnering with the media," he said.

Veering into the cardinal issue of the environment, Mr. Dibba noted: "The issue of the environment is not something very easy; therefore we need the intervention of all stakeholders to play their part towards environmental issues.

"The NEA is a young institution and we believe in involving young people and their ideas in order to extend the issue of the environment to the doorstep of every Gambian and non-Gambian in the country."

He said the NEA's doors are open to journalists, and media practitioners are always invited to the office to obtain veritable information that can be used in reporting environmental issues. "We want you to be coming for interviews on matters relating to the environment," he said, adding that journalists reporting on environmental issues should be well informed and knowledgeable about environmental subjects.

Speaking earlier, Sheikh Alkinky Sanyang, Coordinator of ANEJ and Assistant Programmes Officer at the NEA, informed journalists about the significant role they play in environmental concerns.

"The Media plays a very important role in the development process, most especially when it comes to issues of the environment," Mr, Sanyang said, adding: "We are all aware that the environment causes lots of problems and that makes it everybody's concern."

"The NEA feels that the environment journalist has very crucial role to play in creating awareness on environmental issues."

NEA's senior programme officer Momodou Jama Suwareh and programme officer Famara Drammeh also spoke on the occasion.