Continuing their tour of institutions and media chiefs, the executives of the Young Journalist’s Association of The Gambia (YJAG) yesterday had an audience with the honourable Secretary of State for Information, Communication and Technology, Mrs Nenneh Macdoull Gaye at her office in Kanifing.

Speaking at the meeting Mr Demba Kandeh, Secretary General of YJAG briefed the Secretary of State on the association. He said that one of their aims was to foster unity among young media practitioners in the country and to promote their general welfare.

For his part, Mr Nfamara Jawneh, the president of YJAG appealed to the Gambian Government through the Secy. Macdoull Gaye to help create a faculty of journalism at the University of The Gambia to enable young people to study journalism there. The YJAG president used the forum to invite the secy. to serve as an honorary member in the association. Mr Jawneh also invited the honourable Secretary of State to serve as the special chief guest of honour at the official launch of YJAG to be held in few months time. He also requested support from the Information Secretary. “We would continue to promote the image of the Gambia both locally and internationally, after all we have no other place than the Gambia says YJAG president.

For her part, Secretary of State Macdoull Gaye applauded the YJAG for their initiative describing it at a step in the right direction. She assured young journalists of her departments support.

Reacting to the comments made by the YJAG president, Secy. Gaye described capacity building work in the media as vital and indispensable saying that training for journalists is very important. She added that her department of state has attached a lot of importance to capacity building. She assured those gathered that the government sooner or later would create faulty of journalism at University of The Gambia. “It’s very close to my heart” she said. She revealed that her department of state has plans to organize training programmes for journalists in the country both in private and public media. Stressing that president Jammeh never discriminates in his development activities. “We have all seen that he is sponsoring students all over the country irrespective of political affiliation, tribe or religion” she said. She encouraged young journalists to respect their work as theirs is a noble profession.

The information Secretary of State advised journalists to always report professionally and build their stories not on rumour but on confirmed sources. The Secretary stressed that “freedom of the press cannot be abused and that people cannot hide behind press freedom to create a problem. We are not saying don’t criticize but you can only do so when there is a need” Adding that pen and microphone are powerful tools.

She informed young journalists that they have a vital role to play in the maintenance of peace and development of country.

Secy Gaye promised to organize a family talk with journalists in the country where issues such as pay and promotion could be discussed.

She finally encouraged young journalists to always read as much as they can.

Njameh Bah, of GRTS and a co-opted member of YJAG gave the vote of thanks.

Mr Abdou Karim Sonko, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the department graced the occasion, which was chaired by Assan Sallah YJAG Public Relations Officer.

Others present at the meeting include, Musa Ndow 1st Vice President, Isatou Baldeh 2nd vice president, Saikou Ceesay Assistant Secretary General, Aminata Sanneh treasurer, Madiba Singhateh co-opted member.