A four-day capacity building training for about 30 journalists from the print and electronic media yesterday kicked-off at the Tango Resource Centre in Bakau New Town.

Organised by the Media Agenda with funding from the UNESCO-NATCOM Banjul office, the four-day training was meant to assist member countries to build capacity in information and communication professionals and to preserve information and knowledge while upholding high ethical and professional standards.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ousman Yaboe, the director of Tango, underscored the importance of the training adding that capacity building training is crucial in ensuring ethical standards. He commended Media Agenda for their foresight in coming up with such a training programme for journalists.

For his part, Madi K Ceesay, the director of Media Agenda, expressed gratitude to NATCOM for their cooperation noting that this training programme will last for three months during which over 170 Gambians will be trained.

According to him, the training will be on key areas like basic reporting skills, court reporting and health.Yahya Al-Matarr Jobe, the programme officer for education and science at NATCOM, on behalf of the secretary general of NATCOM - Sukai Bojang said journalists play a crucial role in the socio-economic development of any nation noting that they should maintain high ethical standards in executing their job.

"You inform, educate and entertain the public. I am aware must of you are performing your role efficiently," he said. According to him, with such training programmes media practitioners will do their work more efficiently.

In opening the forum, Sulayman Darboe, the principal secretary at the Department of State for Information, Communication and Information Technology, deputizing for SoS Fatim Badjie-Janneh, said it is important for journalists to report accurately and be truthful. He urged journalists to preserve what he called our cherished traditional cultural norms and values at all times.

He assured media practitioners on behalf of SoS Badjie-Janneh of his department's support whenever the need arises.