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Gambia: Journalists Trained for Broader Scopes On Internet Use

Within its Action Plan for 2007 to 2009 framework, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), through its Communication and Cultural Directorate, organised a training session for journalists on the use of the internet, themed "The use of Internet in the communication sector for the benefit of journalists" at the YMCA hall, Kanifing on Tuesday 2 to 3 October 2007.

In her welcoming remark, Maimuna Sidibeh, programme officer for Culture and Education, Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, expressed her delight over the enthusiastic response of the media practitioners to participate in the training session

Sukai Bojang, the Secretary General of Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), in her opening remarks stated that the training seminar is being funded by ISESCO and organised by the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO.

She added that ISESCO is committed to supporting member countries in their capacity building programme in the fields of education, the sciences, culture and communication. She noted that the organisation has been especially supportive in the training of Arabic/Islamic teachers and the fight against illiteracy. She said ISESCO provided support to the television services of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) in the procurement of equipment.

She told participants that ISESCO 's action plan for 2007 to 2009, in addition to human resource development is to highlight the Islamic civilisation's active part in the knowledge fields. Adding that redressing the image of Islam and Muslims in the West and affording the member states access to the information and knowledge in our society are part of their focus.

For the communication sector, she said ISESCO will contribute towards bridging the digital divide separating the member states from developed countries.

She indicated that it will also support member states' efforts in building the information and communication society, that this training session is being organised to achieve the objective.

She expressed hope that journalists and future journalists would gain more knowledge and become more proficient in their field as well as in the use of the Internet.

Mr.Madi K.Ceesay, President of Gambia Press Union, training consultant and director of Media Agenda and a resource person at the training, made presentations on objective writing, responsible journalism, news gathering and advertising. He emphatically noted that journalists' obligation is to the public and no one else.

Mr. Ceesay reminded journalists that they have a duty to give the public all the facts they need to understand the story. He underscored the point that journalist are writing for the public and should therefore choose to be fair.

He further reminded journalist to stick to the ethics of the profession and the standard of best practices.

Mr. Poncelet who delivered a lecture on the use of Internet in communication, among other things exposed participants to the practical use of search engines. He encouraged journalists to develop skills in evaluating the accuracy and reliability of information found in the web.

Delivering the closing remark on behalf of the Secretary General of NATCOM, Mr. Yaya Jobe, the programme officer for Science at the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO called on participants to strengthen their links as professionals.