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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Sep 2009 : 18:30:46
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Work of Journalists In the Gambia
By Saikou Ceesay
Newspapers in this country have long been regarded as the medium of record in our society, reflecting social, commercial, and political events of the community.
However, over the past decades they have been considered by many as recorders of truthful account of important public events and reliable interpreters of their meanings.
As I write this piece, the country has nine newspapers, eight FM radio stations, six community radio stations and one state-owned radio and television station. All these outlets are geared towards informing, educating and entertaining the populace across the country.
In my view, most newspapers sometimes elevate ordinary events to levels of importance; if it was in the paper, then it had significance, not just for the persons involved. But for example; a family displaced by flood or fire, a refugee receiving a scholarship, burning issues affecting the livelihood of people, or the community at large.
It is apparent that conscious people expect newspapers to inform them about current events, what has happened in the city, court houses, the state capital, the state house, the parliament, the stock market, the United Nations, and issues at the far-flung corners of the world. It is unquestionable that the Gambian newspapers have played many vital roles in the past decades of publication.
It is worth mentioning that the government should create dialogue with the publishers of the private newspapers in their bid to trashing out differences and forging ahead in the interest of the Gambia. I have this fervent believe that no matter how hard it is, someone has to do the job by giving voice to the voiceless in the interest of peace and stability.
For local reporters, they are usually the backbones of newspapers, their efforts are worth recognizing.
These journalists are faced each day with the responsibility of gathering and reporting news, judgments, which goes along with assessing relevance and veracity of information.Reporters struggle daily to get all the facts to tell the stories right, and to do it all quickly under deadline pressure. Sometimes it is frustrating and challenging to work as a journalist in an environment where press freedom is limited.
I sincerely believe that it is the responsibility of both editors and reporters to protect the public good, shining their spotlight of publicity on corruption, cruelty, and betrayal. It is also the responsibility of reporters to unearth stories that will alert the public of their social and scientific achievements and also remind them of their failings.
The work of reporters should not be undermined by legal entrapments and other vices as they toil both day and night just to get good news items fit for public consumption. Therefore, recognizing this invaluable task of news gathering will go a long way in the development of society in general. Journalism in itself is about construction as it preaches avoidance of things that may trigger hatred, grudge and other societal ills in our communities.
This is not the case in some African countries as laws in these countries governing the media are so cruel that the media can hardly work under such hostile environments.
Source: The Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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