A group of 21 students from Washington & Jefferson College, on Monday, visited Observer Company Ltd, producer of the Daily Observer newspaper, as part of their outreach programme to enrich the scope of their understanding about the diversity of African tradition and culture, politics, and other areas relevant to their academic fields of study.

The students were led to the Observer premises by a Gambian-born political science professor, Buba Misawa, who had once lectured in the country’s first locally established University Extension Programme.

The group was received on arrival by Pa Malick Faye, assistant deputy managing director of the Observer Company and the chiefs of the Editorial Department of the company, who escorted them to the reporters’ den.

Speaking on behalf of the Daily Observer, Ebrima Jaw Manneh, the deputy editor-in-chief of the country’s biggest newspaper company, took the visitors on the history of the paper which started operations in 1992. Manneh described the Daily Observer as the flagship of Gambian journalism, with several departments. He said the newspaper is commited to promoting democracy and democratic institutions in the country,

government’s development programmes, human rights, peace and security and social justice, amongst others. He elaborated on the importance of the media as an important institution in the preservation and promotion of governance and democracy.

Jaw Manneh said the paper has about 20 journalists and has immensely contributed towards the promotion of a reading culture, which according to him, was at its doldrums prior to its emergence in the media industry. He paid tribute to the founders of the newspaper and all those who have served in furtherance of its mandate as the voice of Gambians, as depicted in its motto: Forward with The Gambia.

The Daily Observer’s deputy editor-in-chief said the paper is rich in content, noting that the newspaper works to meet the expectations of the public and its diverse readership outside the country.

“Of course we have challenges but these must not be misconstrued as insurmountable. But to deal with them depends on the leadership of a institution and the quality of workforce. This is not peculiar with the Daily Observer. It is phenomenal in every institution that wants to succeed,” the Daily Observer deputy editor-in-chief told the students.

He welcomed the outreach programme of the students, saying that it “will enable you to see for yourselves how democracy and development is faring in some African countries. Africa is a continent of diversity, especially in the areas of culture and values. Our model of democracy is being shaped up by these values and this is not extraordinary about Africa alone. It is happening in other parts of the world”.

Ebrima Jaw Manneh then encouraged the students to maintain contact with the Daily Observer, saying that “we are the same as a people. Lets us not allow geographical realities and ideologies to divide us as a people. The beauty of humanity lies in its diversity”. He then thanked the students on behalf of the leadership and staff of the Daily Observer for the visit.

For his part, Professor Misawa thanked the Daily Observer for the warm reception. Prof Misawa said the group has already visited Senegal and they are keen to learn from the experiences of Africa. He said they will also visit the National Assembly of The Gambia and other national institutions, as well as historical sites.

He thanked Daily Observer for the exposÈ, confirming that they have learned many things from the local practice of newspaper publication which encourages public debate and promotes African politics and modern representative government. He acknowledged that they are aware of the local government election campaigns which are representative of “a real democratic system of government”.

Prof Misawa  said journalism is very challenging in Africa as you serve the people well and “I hope you will continue to serve them”.

“Nation building needs many forces, including journalism,” he concluded.

Jefferson & Washington College campus editor John thanked Sheriff Barry, a staff reporter at the Daily Observer newspaper for establishing the contact between his paper and their institution, assuring him that this is the beginning of the relationship between the two institutions.

Other speakers included Pa Malick Faye, assistant deputy managing director, Abdoulie John, a newly promoted deputy editor-in-chief, Kerri Digiovanni, college campus section editor, who all expressed admiration with the Gambian hospitality and warm welcome. Also present were Lamin M Dibba, another newly promoted deputy editor-in-chief.