In a bid to foster media cooperation, the Managing Editor and Publisher of the Watch Newspaper, Mr. Kandeh Sesay has held fruitful discussions with members of the Guild of Newspaper Editors in the Gambia and the Gambian Press Union.
Mr. Kandeh Sesay who went on a five-day working visit to the Gambia is very optimistic that the media cooperation with the Gambian Journalists will help in maintaining cooperation and mutual understanding amongst Journalists residing in the two countries.
The working visit commenced on the 8th and ended on the 13th January, 2024.
Mr. Sesay continued by stating that, the partnership or cooperation will provide learning platforms for journalists in the two countries, adding that, it will also provide platform for experience sharing and provide mutual benefits amongst journalists especially those in the print media. Mr. Sesay furthering that, such move has the proclivity to enhance business cooperation in terms of purchasing print materials and equipment. Mr. Sesay stressed that, currently the print media journalists are faced with serious challenges in terms of accessing printing materials for newspaper production, adding that, the artificial scarcity of these materials is also a major concern to all members of the print media.
‘’I am positive that the Gambia Press Union and the Sierra Leone Guild of Newspaper Editors will be a force to reckon with should they accept to work together,’’ said Mr. Sesay, stating further that, such move will be of mutual benefit.
As part of his working visit, Mr. Sesay met with the Gambia Press Union, the management and staff of the Standard Newspaper and the Point Newspaper respectively, based in Serrekunda in the Gambia.
In his discussion with the Secretary General of GPU, Mr. Modou S. Joof who doubles as the Journalism Trainer & Fact-checker, highlighted the successes and challenges of the Gambia Media. He disclosed that they are faced with some draconian laws that have not been repeal, but noted that the current government have not jail any journalist since it came to power. He added that the Gambia Press Union has been providing training for its members in fact-checking, misinformation and disinformation.
He concluded that the media in the Gambia has huge challenges in terms of receiving payment from government institutions and other private organizations.
Mr. Sesay also spoke with the Managing Editor of the Voice Newspaper, Mr. Musa.S. Sheriff applauded the move for the information sharing and applauded the Managing Editor of the Watch Newspaper for embarking on the move to bring both the Gambian Journalists and the Sierra Leonean Journalists to have mutual understanding.
