The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in collaboration with the National Youth Council (NYC) on Wednesday 25 August 2021, organized a two training of 25 journalists from different media institutions on peace building and positive messaging on Covid-19 ahead of the December presidential elections. The program is jointly implemented by GPU and NYC with support from UNDP.

The 25 journalists are being prepared to play a fundamental role in peace building and positive messaging on Covid-19 pandemic. The training also focuses on fighting hate speech and misleading information around the pandemic.

Omar Bah, program officer of National Youth Council, said fighting hate speech and misleading information are issues affecting Gambian journalists. He tasked participants from different media houses to champion the battle against hate speech and misleading information. He called on the participants to take the training seriously. He described the training as timely adding that it will give journalists the opportunity to learn a lot of issues relating to the pandemic. He said the components of the training are very important for the journalists.

“Anytime a journalist sends a message people will listen and share the message. I task you to jealously guide your ethic in the profession so that the public will not lose the trust they have on you. I urged you to maintain the standard of your ethic at all times,” he said.

Muhammed S Bah, GPU Vice President, also said journalists should counter fake news and the misconception around the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccination campaign for the country to succeed in the battle against the deadly pandemic. He said the coronavirus is a very dangerous disease which is killing millions of people globally.

“I believe the media have a very important role to play in ensuring that they send positive messages about Covid-19 so that the fear of the vaccines is removed which should be deboned by the media,” he said. He added that the role of journalists in disseminating relevant information and making research to ensure that people get important messages and make informed choices is very important. “Journalists operate with bigger platforms where people get messages and information on a daily basis,” he said.

Modou Njai, Director of Health Promotion called on journalists to contribute in changing the attitudes of the people through positive messaging. “We have already developed key messages in the local language so that people will understand the importance of the vaccination and also the importance of adhering to the preventive measures. So, the media have a role to play here. Journalists should set examples by taking the vaccines with their families and also continue wearing the face masks at all times. You should also encourage people to be vaccinated,” he said.

 

 

 By Dawda Baldeh