The delegation, which comprised of Assistant Secretary General Alieu Ceesay, Treasurer Namory Trawally, and executive member Momodou Bah had a fruitful discussion with the West Coast Radio’s acting managing director, Therese Gomez and members of her senior management team.
Speaking during the meeting, Alieu Ceesay, Assistant Secretary General of SJAG informed that the purpose of the visit to the media chiefs is meant to introduce the new executive to them and to update them on the plans of the executive in terms of moving the association forward.
According to him, the Sports Journalist Association of The Gambia (SJAG) is the umbrella body responsible for all Sports Writers and broadcasters in the country, noting the SJAG adopts a constitution to regulate its activities in accordance with Ethics of Sports Journalism.
“The fundamental mission and vision of the Sports Journalist Association shall be to enhance and develop Sports Journalism in The Gambia to the highest level possible. The association shall cooperate and work with all Sporting Associations and other stakeholders in The Gambia to attaining this goal.”
Ceesay who is also a senior reporter with Daily Observer Newspaper told the West Coast Radio leadership that the new executive is ready to work with all the media chiefs in promoting the welfare of its members who are being employed by the media chiefs.
While thanking West Coast Radio for being the first to reply to their request letters granting the audience, SG Ceesay said the executive will continue to the other media houses in the coming days.
On his part, Namory Trawally, treasurer of SJAG said the new executive is now taking a new dimension by given the media houses the ownership of the association, noting that media houses now have the right to vote unlike before when individuals members used to vote.
Trawally informed that the capacity building is very high on the agenda of the new executive, while calling for the collaboration and support of media chiefs. This, he said, will help to develop and improve the manner in which sports is being report on the media, as many young people are now joining the trade.
According to him, the association in collaboration with The Gambia Press Union to organize series of training programmes where members will be examine at the end to assess them.
Receiving the delegation, Therese Gomez, acting managing director of West Coast Radio calls for unity and hard work among the members of the association, something she opined is the only way to realizing the purpose of the establishing the association.
She urged members to learn from one another and to do away from in-fight and character assassination on the media and internet.
She concluded by thanking the new executive for the initiative to meet the media chiefs, while assuring of West Coast Radio’s support and collaboration at all times.
Gibril Jassey, Admin and Finance Officer; and Hagie Drammeh, Head of West Coast Radio’s Sports both calls for unity among the members.
They encouraged members to be more objective in their reporting.
While renewing their hopes in the new executive, they challenged the new executive to be more committed and open to the general membership.
Meanwhile, the tour continues to other media houses.