By Yunus S Saliu
In their quest to promote credible, quality, and reliable journalism, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Tuesday, 20th June 2023 held a day discourse with the Gambia media chiefs, managers, and publishers and introduced to them a market-driven solution called the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI).
The market-driven solution is meant to promote the credibility of quality journalism and to turn it into a tangible, competitive advantage.
The JTI forum held at the Senegambia Beach Hotel, Kololi was organised and implemented by Reporters Without Borders, while the conduct of the workshop was facilitated by the Gambia Press Union (GPU).
Meanwhile, RSF is been implemented since 2018 in the world but in Africa since 2021 mostly in French-speaking countries while The Gambia become the first English-speaking country in Africa where they introduced the JTI.
The participants at the forum were opened to discourse as speakers dilated on the importance of the Journalism Trust Initiative to the participating media chiefs, managers, and publishers.
Addressing the forum for the commencement of the program, Hon Queen Lamin Jammeh, the Minister of Information said the role of journalists is very critical and needed while he talked about the quality of services that journalists offer the populace.
“The more qualitative publications you give; the more professional you are in your undertaking; the better the long term would provide for your papers,” he noted.
According to him, he said the government of The Gambia is much concerned about the policy to the media, which he said, is the requirement for the existence of a democratic society.
Ma’am Amie Sissoho, Director of Press and Public Relations (DPPR) at the Office of The President expressed delight in The Gambia’s achievement in the press freedom ranking index saying without the media and the government tolerance it might not happen.
She reflected on the objectives of the gathering which is building trust saying, as a media group, in the country, the immediate and most important role is to mediate between society and the government and state and the interchanging the use of government and state.
She also enjoined members of the media to always educate both society and the government and they should remember that integrity is a key to both society and the state, therefore, “our affinity as media publishers, editors, reporters and commentators should not blow our professionalism and the core principles of informing educating and communicating with society and media stakeholders.”
Sadibou Marong, RSF’s Sub-Saharan African Office head, thanked the GPU for facilitating the workshop and also extended big appreciation to the DPPR and the Hon Minister of Information for witnessing the event.
He gave a brief background of the establishment of the RSF and said the workshop was part of their commitment to self-regulatory while the JTI which is a market-driven solution promotes the credibility of quality journalism to turn it into a tangible, competitive advantage.
The RSF’s Sub-Saharan African Office Head added that it is the most inclusive transparency and compliance tool for newsrooms of all sizes, and types, anywhere in the world.
However, he said JTI, so far, has one media certified in Africa based in Niger while they are expecting more than 15 others in different countries at DRC, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Tunisia, and probably The Gambia by the end of the year and “We have over 300 media outlets involved across the continent.”
The Deen of Correspondent of Reporters Without Borders in West Africa also a co-publisher of The Point Newspaper, commended RSF for playing a leading role in press freedom with 180 members.
On press freedom, he said the press is doing tremendously well under this regime led by President Adama Barrow “because there is no censorship, no killing, no burning of media houses, or placing taxes to make sure media houses are closed. So, we thank President Barrow’s government for his foresight to work with us (media).”
Modou Joof, the Gambia Press Union Secretary General applauded RSF saying they are doing quite a remarkable job in terms of monitoring Press Freedom around the world.
He said by promoting press freedom and freedom of expression The Gambia has been improving year on year since 2017 on this index as the media is more freer than it was before.
Promoting professionalism in the industry, he said, the GPU has conducted a series of training and workshops on ethical journalism for journalists and as well they, through the Media Council, have been engaging directly with media managers and editors on the issue of media violation and other concerns.