The
commencement of works to comprehensively reform the media sector, led by the
Gambia Press Union and the Ministry of Information, heralds a new dawn in not
only media development but also Gambia’s democratisation process.
The
composition of the experts group leading the process couldn’t be any better for
it consists of people who know very well the problems and constraints of
Gambian journalists and the media and they also know the international best
practices for media development.
Notwithstanding,
we would like to remind them and reiterate our call for access to information,
and for closer cooperation between the Gambia government and the media.
We
are partners in development and not enemies; hence we should support each
other. There are certain issues to redress immediately for the media houses,
which include regular training, support with equipment, as well as subscription
to newspapers and timely payment for such by government institutions and
parastatals.
The
media, in general, is facing a lot of constraints in recovering debts after
rendering services to government institutions and parastatals.
It
takes us several months to be paid for the advertisements that we publish for
government institutions and parastatals, which gravely affects our cash flow
and keeps us in a tight corner in meeting our financial obligations, such as to
pay our suppliers for printing materials and our staff wages on time.
Nowadays,
many African countries such as Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Gabon provide a
subvention to sustain the press.
The
other thing the expert group should take up, as promised by the new government,
is to repeal all draconian media laws.
As
regards advertisements that we publish for government institutions and
parastatals, we recommend that the government should step in, particularly the
Ministry of Finance, to introduce mechanisms for the media houses to be paid on
time.
Journalists
in The Gambia are making a lot of sacrifices to educate and inform the public.
The
new generation of journalists, however, should not abuse press freedom and get
ourselves in trouble with the law through such crimes as defamation.
We
should be accurate, objective and fair in our reporting, even as we endeavour
to promote divergent views.
The
new government should facilitate training for journalists, access to equipment
and give more facilities to the school of journalism in the country.
“Bridge
the gap between the government and the press.”
The
Point
