By Binta Jaiteh
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) has started training Gambian journalists on conflict sensitive reporting at Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Centre, Bijilo.
The training among other issues will help journalists to fulfil their roles in maintaining high level of professionalism, accuracy and impartiality in their electoral coverage campaign.
Eric Chinje, one of the trainers, said that the role of journalists in promoting peaceful election cannot be overwhelming as it can only happen if journalists have the knowledge and skills to ensure they report accurate and balanced.
“The more journalists investigate and inform the public, the more politicians can be angry with them but that should not stop journalists to hold them accountable, journalists must be creative,” too, he said.
He therefore tasked trainees to dig into issues that are relevant and interesting to the public adding that journalists serve as bridge between the government and the public.
He noted that there is need for journalists to look at issues and find how those issues can help the development of the country and “this can only happen if journalists get the right information and knowledge about issues.”
However, he said the safety of journalist describing it as essential and key as far as the training is concern and also journalist should look at what the country need in trying to report on those issues.
‘’Infrastructure, health, Covid-19 pandemic, women affairs, children, economy, corruption, this are issue that journalist should report daily because the public need them,’’ he said
