Twelve journalists were awarded certificates on human right journalism after a two week intensive training at the kairaba Beach hotel March 13 2008. The course was organized by Media Agenda and sponsored by the embassies of UK and USA in Banjul and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The 12 journalists were drawn from various local media institutions in the country, which are; Gambia radio and televisions services, Yiriwa Development FM radio, The Point newspaper, Forroyaa newspaper, Gambia News and report weekly magazine, City limit Fm radio, Daily observer newspaper, Gambia Daily newspaper, Today newspaper, Daily express, and one student from the Media Agenda’s certificate journalism course.

Delivering his closing remarks, the Deputy British High Commissioner Mr. Graham Birse, told the journalists that his embassy was pleased to be associated with the Media Agenda’s development programmes.He urged the journalists to be very objective in their reports . He said accuracy should also be something they must always have in place. He thanks the facilitators for a job well done.

The Director of Media Agenda Mr. Madi M.K.Ceesay said he is pleased that the course went on as planned. He thanks the two embassies and the Commonwealth Secretariat for their support. Ceesay said he has no doubt that the journalists are well equipped to go on reporting with professionalism. He told them that no training is enough for any journalist. Our profession is dynamic and we have to catch up with the trend that is the only possible with this kind of trainings.

Ms Alexandara Levesque the course facilitator said she is proud of the participants. She said they proof to be the best students she ever have in her career as course facilitator. Speaking on behalf of her colleagues who left after the first week, she said they will  follow their reports in their various papers. The others were Allina Meyers, Nicholas Kotch and Julius Mucungzi all of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The group had other local facilitators from the UNICEF country office, The African Commission on Human and People’s right, and the Child Protection Alliance.