By Kaddy Jawo
The Gambia Press Union, GPU in partnership with University of The Gambia Monday began a two-month training for journalists on investigative reporting.
Comprising at least 25 journalists from both the print and electronic media, the training is being funded by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
Saikou Jammeh, the secretary general of Union, urged the trainees to use the opportunity wisely as the course combines both academic and professional, which he said is vital in journalists’ work.
“We need to protect the young democracy we have and you are not a journalist if you are not an investigative journalist.”
Samba Faal, a lecturer at the University, said course on investigative journalism in The Gambia was long overdue “because journalists now have all the opportunities to do some investigative reporting compared to before.”
“Be ready to have more enemies than friends because to be an investigative journalist, you need no friends and must concentrate on doing what is right by fighting corruption, social injustice and inequality.”
The minister for Information, Ebrima Silllah, said investigative journalists are a “necessary force to monitor, report, hold to account and where necessary, expose corruption and any form of malpractices.”
He commended the GPU and UTG for the “foresight and pro-activeness” in putting in place curricula geared towards creating quality investigative journalists.
“There is nothing more worthy in a democracy than having a pen and mic to fight against any form of corruption or social injustice and accountability,” minister Sillah stated.
“The government remains committed in creating a press freedom for all,” he added.
This is the first batch of journalists to undergo professional training on investigative journalism in The Gambia.
