Cherno A Jallow, a veteran Journalist has reiterated the need for responsible Journalism which implies rights, duties and obligations.

“Therefore, by responsible Journalism, one implies that the practitioners of the profession are aligned  to their duties and obligations to the profession and to the  public”. Mr Jallow made these remarks last Monday while presenting a paper on ‘responsible journalism and conflict prevention in Africa’ at the ongoing three-day training for health journalists at The Gambia Press Union Head Office in Fajara.

According to him, the reporter is expected to report without fear or favour, affection or ill will and he/she must report the truth and nothing but the truth. According to him, many of them see  their occupation as a label to justify who they are. To him, this ignores the bigger question of who they are as journalists and members of the society. ‘We are who we are by virtue of our family background, education, culture, religion or the philosophy we subscribed to” said Jallow.

He added that “Gambian journalists must always remember that their constituencies are not in London, Paris or New York, but in their own country. Therefore, knowing your constituency is very crucial to your reporting. A sound knowledge of your readers and audience, is absolutely necessary so as not to start a fire storm in which all are losers,” he said.

Mr Jallow said as Journalists in “our writing, we should always bear in mind to learn to put the nation before the family or tribe. He acknowledged the fact that most of the conflicts are caused by religious or ethnic divide and that journalists  must be careful of what they write and broadcast to avoid such. “Avoid stereotyping, racial discrimination, castigating  people in terms of their tribe. Give credit where credit is due and sanction where sanction is due,” The Gambian veteran journalist advised