Gambia: Journalists honed to get it right on climate change reporting

Participants and Facilitators: Pix by M.E. Njie

Twenty-five Gambian journalists recently concluded a training course on “Climate Change Facts, Communication and Strategies for Adaptation”.

The training was intended to serve as an appropriate platform for local journalists discuss, learn and share good practices about climate change, its effects, adaptations methods and their roles in climate change education, communication and public access to information.

The training, conducted (January 23-25, 2012)  by a local agency, Global Unification The Gambia (GU) in cooperation with the Gambia Press Union(GPU), and funded by Action aid-The Gambia (AATG), was held at Tendaba, a small settlement in the Kiang District, Lower River Region, situated approximately 170 kilometers east of the capital, Banjul.

IMF Executive Board Concludes 2011 Article IV Consultation with The Gambia

BANJUL, Gambia, January 20, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On January 18, 2012, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with The Gambia.1


Background


The Gambian economy has performed well in recent years, despite challenging global conditions. Real GDP growth averaged around 6½ percent a year during 2008-2010, driven mainly by a strong expansion in agriculture. Tourism and remittances, however, were hit hard by the global economic crisis. 

Media Watchdog calls on authorities to stop 'harassing reporter'

Modou S. Jallow (Pix: The Daily News)

“Gambian police must immediately stop harassing Momodou Jallow for giving voice to farmers’ grievances,” Africa Advocacy Coordinator for the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ Mohamed Keita said. “Repeatedly summoning a journalist to court and threatening him with charges is intimidation designed to silence criticism.”

His call followed the arrest and release of Momodou S. Jallow, a reporter working with the privately-owned The Daily News, newspaper in Banjul, over an article captioned: "Presidential Hajj Package Scandal Chief Baldeh Allegedly Bribes Lover”.

The Gambia must release four activists jailed for distributing anti-government T-shirts

LONDON, United-Kingdom, January 18, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Amnesty International today called for the immediate release of four activists arrested over the distribution of T-shirts calling for an end to dictatorship in the Gambia.

POSTPONED!

Press Statement:

The Executive Committee of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) regrettably decided to postpone indefinitely its "Saturday, January 21, 2012 Fundraising Programme at St. Charles Luwanga Hall, Faji Kunda".

YJAG RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE OF ‘WOMEN AND CHILDREN’

Press Statement:

The Young Journalists Association of The Gambia, YJAG will on Saturday January 21, 2012 hold a Fundraising Programme at St. Charles Luwanga Hall at Faji Kunda. 
 

The programme, which will be held in a form of musical entertainment, will feature great Gambian Musicians like Dr. Olugander on his return from Europe, Stalwart, a short listed candidate for three international awards, Paapa Lenghty (SiiPaahBii), and Tam 50 of the BK City. 

The Observatory denounce 'interminable judicial harassment' of women human rights defenders

Amie Bojang Sissoho and Dr. Isatou Touray (L-

The Observatory, a joint programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), on January 9, 2012 denounce what it called the “interminable judicial harassment” faced by two women human rights defenders in The Gambia.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders believes that the criminal case against Dr. Isatou Touray and Amie Bojang-Sissoho merely aims at intimidating them and impeding GAMCOTRAP from carrying out its activities for the promotion and protection of human rights. 

Who Killed Deyda Hydara?

Slain Gambian journalists leader - Deyda Hydara

Gunmen, who remain at large, killed Deyda Hydara, the co-proprietor and managing editor of The Point newspaper in a drive-by shooting on the night of December 16, 2004.

His murder which coincided with the 13^th anniversary of his newspaper, plunge Gambia's media fraternity into a mood of despondency that it is yet to recover from, leaving civil and human rights organisations around the world in utter disbelief.  

An erstwhile Gambia Press Union (GPU) President and an advocate for press freedom and of expression, Deyda has been a well-known critic of government policies and programmes and fought for the improvement of the living standards of the ever growing poor populations in the country. 

Gambia: Dancehall artist short listed for international award

Gambian dancehall artist, Stalwart “the mental assassin” has been short listed for three international awards in the 1^st Global African Music Awards (GAMA 2011), organised by Malaysia-based music promoters and producers: Bite My Music, King Lhota, President of African Radio Asia, Siva Zaphod Chandran, Meera Thuraivel, and the Saintz and Sinnerz.

Stalwart, the “poor people’s voice” whose real name is Yankuba Dibba, one of Gambia’s most conscientious and controversial artists is competing for “Best African Male Artist”, “Best African Reggae Artist”, and Best Dancehall Artist” with entry songs “Home Again”, “What Goes Around”, and “Drive The Car”.

He is vying for honours with 26 African musicians in all three categories. The Organisers are expected to unveil the winners early this year (2012), having close polls for online voting in early December 2011.

Secondary schools sports to resume after ban

 St. Augustine Secondary School, Banjul (Pix: St. Augustine)

The ban on Secondary schools sports in the Gambia has been lifted by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) after 10 months.

The Gambia Government imposed a ban on one of the country’s biggest schools sporting competition following a bloody fracas between Armitage and Bansang Senior Secondary schools on February 12, 2011 during an “Inter School Zonal Athletic Championship” at Jangjangbureh, in the Central River Region (CRR).

Followers of the right path

Amirs  @ 35^th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) April 2011

Those who exercise their God-given potentials meaningfully to attain both their worldly and spiritual objectives are followers of the right path. They are the ones who shall be the successors of the prosperous, according to Brother Tahir Ahmad Touray.

Touray was speaking at opening of the 28^th Annual National Ijtema (Convention) of the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (Ahmadiyya Male Youth Wing) of The Gambia held at Masroor Senior Secondary school, Old Yundum, Kombo North District of the West Coast Region.  

News Release: FGM Campaign takes root in the Central River Region

The Campaign to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has taken roots in the Gambia through raising awareness and building consciousness amongst the people.  The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices affecting the health of Women and Children - GAMCOTRAP has recently completed a series of Training and Information Campaign activities held at Janjanbureh, Sami Karantaba Tabokoto and Chamen Nainija in the Central River Region North (CRRN).  About two hundred women and men benefited from the workshops funded by the European Union / Non-State Actors project in the Gambia.

Interviewing tips for journalists

Pix by Mediahelpingmedia

(Media Helping Media) - Always be polite, know what you want, do your research, listen to the person you are interviewing and remain alert for unexpected news angles - just a few tips for getting a strong interview.

The following module was written for media trainers at the Media Resources and Training Centre (MRTC) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, who requested some tips for their students on how to prepare for and conduct an interview.