By Arret Jatta
President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) Muhammed S Bah,
has recommended for the government to start giving subventions to the private media.
This was part of Mr. Bah’s set of recommendations made during
the third session of the National dialogue held on Friday 16th February at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center.
“Government should come up with subvention, by providing financial support to private media to address financial challenges and enhance effectiveness,” he said.
He also recommends an accredited regime and capacity building for media practitioners.“Establish an accreditation system through Gambia Press Union and Media Council to ensure media accountability and also capacity building to enhance support for media capacity-building initiatives”.
On media law reform, Mr. Bah urges government to expedite media law reformprocess and also transform GRTS into a public broadcaster.
“Repeal draconian laws, and ensure full implementation of the Access to Information Act,” he added.
Mr. Bah also stresses the need to integrate media literacy into the national curriculum to empower youth in navigating the media landscape.
Furthermore, he made an open recommendation which is to transform GRTS from a state media to a public broadcaster for it to operate independently, ensuring trust and transparency in media operations.
Bah concludes that the thematic discussion underscored the critical role of the media in safeguarding democracy in the Gambia through collaborative efforts, and proactive measures. “Stakeholders can address challenges and foster a conduciveenvironment for media freedom and integrity,” he reiterated.
The dialogue which had the theme; “Preserving the Nation, safeguarding the state and securing our resources,” aimed to foster unity among citizens.