Journalists’ leader attributes ‘little reporting' on environment to low capacity

Participants and facilitators pose after opening ceremony (Photo Credit:BAJ-Gambia/March2014)

President of The Gambia Press Union, Bai Emil Touray, has said “capacity on environment issues is at low ebb since there are little reports on environmental issues on [local] radio stations and newspapers.”

The protection of the environment is a collective responsibility - especially for journalists, Mr Touray told a March 15 Biodiversity Action Journalists The Gambia (BAJ-Gambia)-organised training workshop for editors, web designers and radio producers at Wellingara Horticulture Model Centre.

He said it is important that journalists provide the people with accurate and timely information on environmental matters – and encourages BAJ and its partners to not only train journalists but also embark on research projects.

YJAG to hold mega fundraising dancehall show with DJ Pisces

The Young Journalists Association of The Gambia (YJAG) is to hold a mega dancehall musical show with one of the most renowned DJs in the country, DJ Pisces on 27 April 2013 at Romana in Bakau.
 

The fundraising is meant to gather more funds for the association to embark on more capacity building programmes for its members, the young journalists, for them to become responsible journalists in order to contribute their quota to national development of The Gambia.

Lamin Jahateh, secretary general of YJAG, reiterated that proceeds from the programme will also be used to implement a line-up of activities which the association is to hold but could not due to the perennial problem of lack of fund.

Daily Trust reporter bags US journalism fellowship

Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, Daily Trust

The head of Investigations Unit of Daily Trust, Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, has been selected by the Department of State to participate in the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP), a professional exchange program of the United States Government. 

The programme, entitled “Investigative Journalism & New Electronic Media” is commenced on August 27 and will end on September 15, 2012. Sixteen participants were selected from 15 African countries.

The invitation, signed by Bill Strassberger, Cultural Affairs Officer in the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, said the programme is a special initiative for young, up-and-coming media professionals that will examine the rights and responsibilities of a free press in a democracy.

Each year, leading journalists are nominated for participation by the American embassies in their home countries. The programme is sponsored by the US Embassy in Nigeria and organised by the US Department of State in Washington DC.

Reporting Terrorism In Africa:A Personal Experience with Boko Haram

Posted by: Newsdiaryonline Posted date: April 19, 2012 In: Columns, News | comment : 0

 

Nigerian journalist, Ahmad Salkida

Introduction

Reporting terrorism is not different from reporting our normal, everyday news; news must be current and mean something to people though in different ways.

Terrorism means different things to different people as well. While others see acts of terrorism as a crime against humanity some see it as a religious duty that offers martyr status to the perpetrators.

In Nigeria, the concept of suicide bombings and armed robberies in the name of religion was initiated by the Jama’atu Ahl-Sunnati Lil Da’awati Wal Jihad otherwise known as the Boko Haram Islamist sect in Northern Nigeria. The impact and depth of their destruction to the institutions of government and public psychology is unparallel and at an increase.

Where to Turn When Tackling Money-in-Politics Stories

Campaign Desk, Swing States Project — April 10, 2012 04:46 PM

A wealth of watchdog sites make campaign-finance data accessible, easy to work with

By Mary Winter

COLORADO—Edwin Bender knows the value of a good follow-the-money story.

Bender is the executive director of the National Institute on Money in State Politics and its website, named—appropriately enough—Followthemoney.org. He’s also someone with a particular interest in prison-privatization proposals, and a particular suspicion, honed over more than a decade, about the role political donations play in encouraging elected officials to embrace privatization.

Determined to expand knowledge of journalism: Mafugi Ceesay

Mafugi Ceesay, judicial reporter - The Voice

A judicial reporter for The Voice Newspaper in Gambia, Mafugi Ceesay has told The North Bank Evening Standard "I am determined to expand my knowledge of journalism".

Mr. Ceesay was speaking to the publisher  on on March 17, 2012, a few hours before leaving for the Gold Coast of Ghana where he will partake in a two week training on "The Media's Role in Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in West Africa."

The course (March 19-30, 2012), is organised by the International Institute for Journalsm of GIZ - Germany. "I am looking forward to the course and I hope it will help improve my knowledge of conflict reportage and the many factors triggering conflicts in West Africa," said Mr. Ceesay, whose participation is facilitated by the privately-owned newspaper that he works for.

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.

Happy-Sad Independence Day: The Case Of S/Loene’s Femi Coker

• Posted by Modou S. Joof on May 19, 2010 at 5:38pm
• Send Message   View Modou S. Joof's blog

 

        Femi Coker pose for a photo after a training session 

at the Kofi Anan Peace Centre, Accra, Ghana

She got up overfilled with joy, sparklingly dressed and energized for the day’s activities, but these unparalleled “goodies” would not live to see the day’s end.

Her plan for a mouthwatering evening party or mini celebration was a blatant fantasy, and if she knew what ambush fate had ahead of her she would never have had any reason to be cheerful. Her face gleamed with a broad smile, indicating that everything was all right, at least, as she took her breakfast to a nearby table.

After having my breakfast, I moved over to her table to keep some conversation until she finishes for us to get set for class. “You look smart and lively today,” I pointed out. “Yes, today is a big day for me in my country,” Femi Coker replied.

I was lost. We are way in Accra, Ghana, at the HighGate Hotel, having breakfast at about 7:30 am, along with other West African journalists. I could not understand. Therefore, I was lost when Femi said she was the way she was because it was “a big day” in her country.