The Global Institute for Democracy and Electoral Aid (Global IDEA), in partnership with The Gambia Press Union and with beef up from the European Union, is constructing the capability of the Gambia Media Council (GMC) and Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Media Monitoring of Ethical Violations and the Pattern of a Information on Media Monitoring of Ethical Violations.
The Deputy Head of Mission of the EU, Raphaël Brigandi, said the EU is a steadfast accomplice in supporting press freedom and educated journalism within the context of the broader purpose of strengthening democracy in The Gambia.
He added that journalists play a an significant feature in informing the public, retaining these which have public tasks to blame for their actions, and fostering delivery and optimistic debates.
“There is indeed no democracy without free media, at the same time, there is also no freedom without responsibility, without duties. With the responsibility of reporting comes the need to apply high ethical professional standards that ensure accuracy, fairness, and integrity in this endeavour,” Brigandi said.
He extra acknowledged that the European Union recognises the challenges that media practitioners face in The Gambia, including the slow traipse of media legislation 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.”
Jainaba Faye, head of the country plan of job of Global IDEA, said the media properties should composed take hold of the lead in addressing moral violations by establishing internal mechanisms for ethics and compliance. Alongside this, she said national bodies esteem The Gambia Press Union and The Gambia Media Council must act as self sustaining watchdogs to uphold media integrity.
By actively monitoring media ethics, Madam Faye said they foster a custom the place truth prevails, misinformation is minimised, and journalism strengthens democracy. “This vigilance ensures that reporting meets the highest standards of integrity and credibility,” she added.
She extra said that thru the EU-funded Consolidation of Democratic Dispensation in The Gambia (CODE) project, a information could possibly perchance well be developed to define key moral tips equivalent to accuracy, equity, and accountability. “This resource will help the GPU and The Gambia Media Council effectively monitor media content for ethical violations.”
Sheriff Saidykhan, the vice chairman of the Gambia Press Union additionally alluded to scapacity training to equip the GPU and its mates and the Media Council with the requisite data and abilities on media monitoring, and thereby present a foundation for the advent of a custom of accountability and transparency within the Gambian media landscape.
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The GPU VP said in The Gambia, the place the media landscape is evolving, it became once an significant to put a framework that now not handiest identifies moral violations but additionally promotes adherence to moral values.
He referred to The Gambian media in its Code of Behavior (the Cherno Jallow Constitution of Ethics for Journalists) which outlines key moral tips, including accuracy, equity, and accountability, tailored to the queer cultural and political atmosphere of The Gambia.