A three-week intensive capacity building training for journalists, organized by the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) in collaboration with the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), commenced on Monday April 27 at the Gambia Press Union Secretariat along the Garba Jahumpa Road in Bakau.

The training is being coordinated by the Gambia Communication Agency and Baroueli Enterprises, and attracted over 30 journalists drawn from both the print and electronic media in The Gambia.  The overall objective of the training is to deepen essential journalistic skills in order to build a vibrant, strongly professionalized and independent media in The Gambia.

Emil Touray, secretary general of the Gambia press Union, in his welcoming address described the training as very important. He thanked the sponsors for their support adding that "we at the GPU really value the support given over the years to the media". The managing director of the Gambia Communication Agency and Barouell Enterprise, who also doubles as the lead consultant, Suwaibu Konateh, spoke on the significance of journalism.  He said that the training is basically planned as a remedial programme for journalists in print and electronic media.

Highlighting the concept of journalism, Konateh revealed that over the years, concerns have been raised about the inadequacies of journalists in the country.  He described remarks made by Kemo Cham, acting editor-in-chief, Daily Observer, during an interview on GRTS TV that "one does not have to go to journalism school to be a good journalist" as very relevant. Konateh revealed that majority of journalists in the world have never been to a school of journalism.

On journalistic language, Konateh said that as a journalist, one's writing should be simple to ensure easy understanding. Speaking on behalf of the UNDP resident co-coordinator, Madam Chinwe Dike, Sainabou Jaye-Marong said the UNDP is committed to supporting the development efforts of the government and the people of The Gambia.  She added that this is clearly manifested in The Gambia Government/UNDP Mutual Cooperation Framework, the Country Programme Document and the current Country Programme Action Plan of 2007-2011.

Amadou Ceesay, representative from the ACDHRS, who declare the workshop open on behalf of his executive director, Hannah Forster, said the training marks a milestone in the field of journalism in The Gambia noting that the overall objective of the training is to capacitise and strengthen the level of media practitioners. Other speakers included Pap Saine, managing editor of The Point newspaper, and Nyakassi Jarju, a representative from Action Aid The Gambia.