Assembly sends journalists for training abroad

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Assembly sends journalists for training abroad

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Friday, October 31, 2008

The National Assembly of The Gambia, through its United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Capacity Building Development Project, is sponsoring five journalists, from both the print and electronic media, to undertake a three-week training course on parliamentary reporting, at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, in Ghana.

The group of lucky Journalists, which includes Alhagie Jobe, a deputy editor-in-chief of the Daily Observer; Abba Gibba, a sub- editor at The Point Newspaper; Famara Fofana, Mama Jaye and Nuha Badjie of GRTS radio and television, are expected to leave Banjul for Ghana on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Among the subjects of their course would be legal and ethical implications of media coverage, investigative reporting, techniques of interviews, amongst others.

This Assembly-UNDP facilitated training was the first of it's kind in the history of The Gambia's legislature, and it greatly symbolises the importance the National Assembly, under the present government, attaches to the immense role of the media in its socio-economic development strives.

In a farewell speech to the departing journalists, yesterday, at the National Assembly Chambers in Banjul, Hon. Fatoumata Jahumpa-Ceesay, speaker of the National Assembly, expressed delight over the fruitful partnership between the Assembly and the UNDP country office. She noted the provision of this training would avail the National Assembly correspondents the skills to report effectively and accurately, not only during parliamentary proceedings but also on various assignments of their respective media houses.

According to the speaker, training National Assembly Correspondents had been a priority; otherwise, she said, the resources could have been diverted to other ventures. She however noted that the move would go a long way in maintaining the good governance process The Gambia continue to cherished.

Speaker Jahumpa also told the departing journalists that they were expected to serve as worthy ambassadors of The Gambia, noting that the institution chosen for them in Ghana was one of the best in the sub-region.

"Ghana Institute of Journalism has ever been graduating the best journalists in the world. So I will strongly urge you to make the best use of this opportunity," Speaker Jahumpa urged journalists, while warning them that the three-week course would be very intensive.

She challenged media outfits in the country to ensure that their journalists specialized in various fields of reporting, emphasizing that one needed to be a specialist in any field of profession if they were to succeed. While commending the UNDP for a fruitful partnership with the Assembly, which has resulted to this significant development, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay expressed hope that upon return of the journalists, they would continue to report for the National Assembly.

Sira Ndow, program analyst of the UNDP Country Office, noted that their partnership with the Assembly dated back to last year, when they felt the need to cooperate with the new Assembly members, who were more than 50% new comers.

According to Ms Ndow, the UNDP felt the need to build capacity in the country's media, to enable them effectively disseminate National Assembly proceedings to the masses. She expressed gratitude to the Ghana Institute of Journalism for accepting the five journalists, further expressing hope that the move was the start of a partnership with the said institution.

"As we plan for the follow-up project, we envisaged that we will be doing more training for the media practitioners and the National Assembly Members," she assured the journalists, while challenging them to live up to expectations.

The National Assembly member for Basse Constituency, Hon. Sellu Bah, said that the media fraternity should be sincerely thankful for the simple fact that they were been shown the light to the Assembly.

While emphasising the need for the media fraternity to work hand in glove with the Assembly, the Basse NAM used the opportunity to salute Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay for her foresight and passion for the initiative. He then challenged the journalists to be worthy ambassadors of The Gambia during their stay in Ghana.

Kebba Dibba, senior television manager at the Gambia Radio and Television Services, who spoke on behalf of the awarded journalists, hailed the steadfastness of the Speaker and the UNDP in championing a cause vital to the enhancement of journalism in the country.

He noted that for journalists to report accurately and effectively, the need for capacity building such as this could not be questioned. Mr Dibba then challenged the UNDP to offer more training of this nature to Gambian journalists.

At the end of the historic farewell ceremony, the more-than-delightful and grateful journalists spoke to the Daily Observer about how they feel about this rare opportunity.

Alhagie Jobe: A deputy editor-in-chief at Daily Observer
This training is yet another plus for the entire media fraternity. As a reporter attached to the National Assembly for a good number of years now, it will greatly boost my morale and avail me the opportunity to report more effectively and accurately, not only National Assembly affairs, but other issues as well, as indicated in the course itinerary. Hopefully, we will live up to expectations.

At this point, I will like to thank the National Assembly under the visionary leadership of Speaker Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay for this laudable move.

I also salute the UNDP for funding the training and I wish to assure both institutions that we will excel. I am also appreciative of the management of the Daily Observer, for giving me the opportunity to take part in the program.

Abba AS Gibba: A sub-editor at The Point newspaper
This is a rare opportunity to me as a journalist, which in turn is a major boost to The Gambia's media fraternity. Like any other field, journalists also deserve to have the vital ingredients in a bid to enable us do our work easily and effectively. I thank the National Assembly and the UNDP for such a timely training, and I therefore urge other public and private institutions to emulate the Assembly.

Ms Mama Jaye: GRTS
This training means a lot for me as a journalist. This is a step in my career, which would go a long way in further developing my capacity. For the fact that I am a National Assembly reporter, it will enable me to ensure effective parliamentary reporting.

So I am appealing to stakeholders to emulate the National Assembly and the UNDP so as to boost the capacity of journalists.

Nuha Badjie: Radio Gambia
This is an opportunity that will enable me to further develop my capacity as a journalist. It is necessary for us to be trained in a bid to enable us do our work effectively.

So I want to use this opportunity to call on other institutions to emulate the move and venture into training of journalists. So, training us means a lot since we are the 4th estate of government.

Famara Fofana: GRTS
This training is indeed laudable and a very important step in the right direction, giving the fact that Assembly reporting is such a challenging one. It will go a long way in developing and enhancing our skills to ensure effective and efficient Assembly reporting, as well as other media reporting in general.

So I am appealing to both public and private institutions to emulate the National Assembly and the UNDP to ensure vibrant journalism. I therefore commend the sponsors for such a timely and needed training.

Author: by Hatab Fadera

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