By Mani Kumba
An executive secretary of Gambia’s Media Council has affirmed that the body seeks to protect media credibility in promoting ethical journalism of independent and transiency.
The council was established by Gambia Press Union in December, 2018, as part of the sector reform facilitated by the government through the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (MoICI). It aims to regulate the media fraternity.
Speaking in a press conference at GPU office Junkung Jobarteh said “the council’s Mission is to protect the media through the consideration, investigation and resolution of complaints about the breaches Code of Conduct or any other relevant law.”
He said the council will monitor, record and publish compliance of ethical standard as well as promote and ensure adherence with the code; provide non-binding guidance regulated media entities includes the establishment of internal forms of regulation, publish papers among other materials.
“And encourage media development in The Gambia. The GPU’s Code of Conduct which provides guidelines and ethical standards for all categories of news media is the working tool for the council and ethics panel in resolving the complaints. It’s hoped that the council will facilitate the establishment of a public trusted media in the country,” he said.
According to him, the council benefits are overwhelming for both the media and the public, as “the benefits includes preventing government or state apparatus from interfering extensively with the media, provide alternative to courts for resolving complaints on media contents as well provide free cost complaint resolution process.”
“The choice of self-regulation over state regulation will engender the promotion of independent and free media as well as upholding the highest ethical standard by the media and its practitioners.”
He went further that this self-regulatory process can work for the media only when the media practitioners and entities submit themselves to it and comply its decisions and recommendation.
Meanwhile, he added, journalists have the responsibility to adhere to the lawful dictates of the council and panel in order to avoid seeing journalists and media houses facing civil and criminal cases in courts.