Journalists from the print and electronic media will this afternoon conclude a two-day training workshop on the theme The Use of Internet in Communication Sector for the Benefit of Journalists currently underway at the YMCA in Kanifing.

The training, organized by the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO and funded by the Communication and Culture Directorate of Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), is aimed at familiarizing journalists on the use of internet for communication purposes.

In a brief remark at the opening ceremony of the training, the Secretary General of NATCOM, Aja Sukai Bojang, said ISESCO is committed to supporting member countries in their capacity building programmes in the fields of education, the sciences, culture and communication.

“In this country, the organization has been especially supportive in the training of Arabic/Islamic teachers and the fight against illiteracy. It had also provided support to the television services of the Gambia Radio and Television Services in the procurement of equipment,” she added.

“Under its Action-plan for 2007-2009, ISESCO will, in addition to human resource development, focus on highlighting the Islamic civilization’s active part in knowledge fields, redressing the image of Islam and Muslims in the West and affording the member states access to the information and knowledge society,” stated Madam Bojang.

According to her, ISESCO will contribute towards bridging the digital divide separating the member states from developed countries.

“It will also support member states’ efforts in building the information and communication society. Hence this training session is being organized to achieve that objective. It is expected that journalists and future journalists will gain more knowledge and become more proficient in their field as well as in the use of the internet,” said she.

In his presentation on objective writing, responsible journalism, news gathering and advertising, the Director of Media Agenda cum President of the Gambia Press Union, Mr. Madi M.K. Ceesay, said: “ As a journalist, you must tell the truth-do not write fictions. Make sure everything you write is the truth.”

For more on the presentation of the GPU boss, see our subsequent editions.