The Country Head of IDEA, The EU Deputy Head of Mission, the Vice President of The Gambia Press Union, and the Participants
By Fatou Sillah
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), in collaboration with the Gambia Press Union (GPU) and with support from the European Union (EU) through the EU-funded CODE Project, has launched a two-day training on media monitoring of ethical violations.
The workshop, which commenced on Tuesday at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, aims to enhance the capacity of GPU members and the Media Council in ensuring ethical journalism practices.
The training seeks to equip media professionals with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively monitor ethical violations in journalism and to develop a comprehensive guide for media monitoring. It also aims to promote accountability and transparency within The Gambia’s media landscape.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Sheriff SaidyKhan, Vice President of the Gambia Press Union, emphasized the significance of the training in fostering ethical journalism.“This two-day capacity building will help to equip the GPU and its affiliates and the Media Council with the requisite knowledge and skills on media monitoring, and thereby provide a foundation for the creation of a culture of accountability and transparency in the Gambian media landscape. It is a significant step towards promoting ethical journalism in The Gambia. Media monitoring plays a crucial role in ensuring ethical standards are upheld in journalism,” he said
The Deputy Head of Mission at the EU Delegation in The Gambia highlighted the EU’s commitment to strengthening ethical journalism, acknowledging the challenges faced by media practitioners, including the slow pace of media law reforms.
“This two-day training, organised in collaboration with International IDEA, will help to equip GPU Staff and the Media Council staff with additional tools to further improve the necessary monitoring. The European Union recognises the challenges that media practitioners face in The Gambia, including the slow pace of media law reforms. The GPU and the Media Council play a key role in defending the rights of journalists and promoting and upholding the highest professional standards for journalism in The Gambia,” he stated.
Jainaba Faye, Head of International IDEA’s Country Office, underscored the importance of addressing ethical violations in journalism, including misinformation, privacy breaches, and hate speech.
“The media, often referred to as the “Fourth Estate “, is a pillar of democracy tasked with informing the public, holding power to account, and fostering informed debate. However, when media outlets prioritize sensationalism over accuracy, clicks over credibility, or political agendas over impartiality, they betray the sacred duty of this noble profession,” she said.
She further stressed that monitoring ethical violations is not an act of censorship but a safeguard for democracy, truth, and human dignity. “Ethical violations such as spreading misinformation, invading privacy, or amplifying hate speech erodes trust and fractures the very foundations of society. I stand before you today to underscore the critical importance of monitoring and addressing these breaches, not as an act of censorship but as a safeguard for democracy, truth, and human dignity,” she stated.
As part of the initiative, International IDEA, with EU support, handed over 500 copies of the validated Assault and Battery Guide for Journalists to GPU. The guide aims to empower journalists to seek appropriate redress in cases of assault or battery and provides key insights into legal protections for media practitioners.