By Landing Colley
At least fifteen (15) journalists selected from the print, television and radio have completed a three days training on parliamentary reporting held at Mansea Beach Hotel.
The training was organized by the National Assembly in collaboration with UNDP and Gambia Press Union (GPU) to improve the media personnel capacity on legislative reporting. And also it was meant to strengthen the relationship between media and National Assembly.
The participants were taken through parliamentary tradition role and functions, the standing orders, rules and proceeding, as well as the parliamentary committees and their oversight functions.
Speaking at the opening of the training, Momodou A. Sise, Clerk of the National Assembly commended the National Assembly for organizing the training for media personnel to help them effectively understand fundamental reporting of parliamentary democracy.
“These virtues of this noble profession can be better appreciated by providing a well-structured training course targeting accredited media practitioners reporting from the National Assembly. Studies have shown that effective and responsible Journalism contributes immensely in successes of Parliamentary Democracies of modern world Thus; effective Media Coverage of Parliamentary Affairs deepens public trust and public access to the entire legislative structure and business,” he said.
He urged participants to take the training serious in ensuring to mitigate the challenges confronting them to execute media duties.
Kebba A.F Touray reporter for Foroyaa Newspaper said the important of this training cannot be over emphasize despite been reporting at the National Assembly for long time. He added that there were many issues that were not clear to him but thanks to this training.
He explained further that “there are lots of issues that I have not comprehended for example the procedure but now due to this training I have learned a lot and from now on this will be my guiding tools when reporting on NA matters.”
He advised his colleagues – journalists to keep accurate information concerning all issue, while applauded NA for coming up with such an initiative.
Binta Jallow from Eco TV said the training is very important and timely, as it was difficult for her to report on parliament before, “but this training has been a helping tool at least I know the rules and proceeding of the parliament and how to angle my story.”
