The GPU is concerned that the President Adama Barrow is considering taking legal action against The Voice newspaper over a story it ran on 23rd September which claims President Barrow has chosen a successor as part of an exit plan.
The story upholds the principles of balance and fairness in news reporting as provided for in the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics for Journalists (the conduct for journalists) by providing a platform to two senior NPP officials to reply to the claims.
We consider the threat of legal action as unnecessary and a threat to press freedom. We also reiterate our call for president Barrow to uphold his promises and demonstrate tolerance for press freedom, and urge him to drop the idea of a suit against The Voice Newspaper immediately.
The Gambia Press Union has said in a statement that The Voice newspaper article about President Barrow’s succession plans upholds balance and fairness in journalism.
In a statement released on Thursday evening, the GPU stated: “The GPU is concerned that President Adama Barrow is considering taking legal action against The Voice newspaper over a story it ran on 23rd September which claims President Barrow has chosen a successor as part of an exit plan.”
“The story upholds the principles of balance and fairness in news reporting as provided for in the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics for Journalists (the conduct for journalists) by providing a platform to two senior NPP officials to reply to the claims,” the secretary general of The Gambia Press Union stated.
The Gambia Press Union described the legal threat as a suppression of press freedom.
“We consider the threat of legal action as unnecessary and a threat to press freedom. We also reiterate our call for President Barrow to uphold his promises and demonstrate tolerance for press freedom, and urge him to drop the idea of a suit against The Voice Newspaper immediately,” the statement concludes.