The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has held its 26th Congress in Moscow, from May 28th to June 2nd 2007. Representatives from different countries gathered in the Russian Capital City in order to brainstorm on the state of the media in the world.

This largest gathering of journalists is held every three years. This year’s congress was themed: Marking News for Democracy: Building Trust in Quality Journalism.

Speaking to the Daily Observer, Madi Ceesay, President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), outlined the importance of the theme, adding that the IFJ Congress is the main arena for an exchange of views and experiences between members of the media fraternity.

According to GPU boss, the congress was restructured along three main lines: Journalism and Inter-Cultural Dialogue in the Face of Terrorism and Intolerance; Global Media and the Fight for Decent Work; What Future for Journalism?

The GPU President also spoke on the report and main conclusions of African Regional Meeting. ‘‘The Africa Regional Meeting considered among other issues, the General Secretary’s report, especially its sections on regional Africa activities and the achievements reached since 2004 IFJ congress, the main decision of the 2006 regional Rabat meeting, and the motion introduced to the 2007-2010 policy and activities in Africa,’’ he said.

He went on to say that the meeting insisted on the necessity for the African affiliates to set up Conference of the African Journalists Unions, as decided at the Rabat meeting in September 2006. ‘‘The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) has offered to organise the meeting before the end of 2007’’, he added. 

Consequently, an interim committee made of IFJ executive members and sub-regional representatives is charged to fix the details of the meeting with the coordination of the IFJ African officers. As such, the African representatives seem to be really decided to find concrete solutions that matter for the media practitioners, for democracy and our common future.