The fundamental lesson, which was gathered from the recent Congress of the Gambia Press Union, is that all journalists want to see a union which is transparent, accountable, independent, inclusive, accommodating, effective, efficient, protective, pragmatic and uncompromising to mediocrity in the performance of the duty. Every journalist who has the interest of the Media at heart is looking forward to a leadership which can inspire, unify and build the integrity of the Union before the eyes of its members in particular and the Gambian public and International Community in General.

The democratic election conducted by the IEC should therefore mark the beginning of a new page for the Union. This should be marked by fresh thinking on how to reposition the Union in the administrative life of the country so that it can become relevant and indispensable to the pursuit of fundamental justice, enlarged freedom, democratic governance, an informed citizenry and a more cohesive and open democratic culture.

It is necessary for all Media practitioners and administrators to recognise that the GPU is a distinct entity, whose primary responsibility is to uphold and promote the freedom, responsibility and professionalism of the Media and media practioners and personnel.

In order to achieve this aim, the GPU needs the support and cooperation of all Media Houses, Media Practioners, administrators and personnel; the general public, the Lawmakers, the Executive, the Judiciary, the oversight institutions, like the IEC and the Office of Ombudsman and Civil society segments or branches.

Memoranda of Understanding with Media houses

There is need to spell out, in black and white, in the Constitution of the GPU, that the executive members of the GPU are elected in their personal capacities as media practitioners and in the exercise of their individual and collective functions under the law, none shall be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. Foroyaa is willing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the GPU, which could include commitment to the above mentioned provision. The memorandum could also include willingness to allow the GPU to perform a mediation role in case of disputes with other media houses and to facilitate the redressing of complaints lodged by parties against Foroyaa for any alleged violation of professional conduct. Foroyaa will be willing to discuss salary or remuneration structures with the GPU, with a view to coming up with a reasonable remuneration package for media practitioners. Foroyaa is willing to cooperate with GPU, regarding any training scheme for its staff and to accept instruction from its staff to pay membership contributions directly to the GPU.

Foroyaa is willing to be a part of any Management or Editors' Forum, which aims to bring together the decision makers of the different Media Houses and the GPU executive to discuss professional concerns, media laws, policies, programmes and practices in an open and frank and confidential manner, without fear that one would wake up the next day to find one's raw statements quoted in the front page of another paper.

The Policy of Constructive Engagement

Ebrima Sawaneh's spirit of constructive engagement should be commended. The leadership would do better if it refuses to fuse Union and Media houses. It should recognise that democratic leadership is not about being omniscient or omnipotent, on the contrary, it is best exercised by relying on the collective intelligence of the led. This is how the governance of a body like the press union could be connected with, dependent on and determined by the will of its members. In this regard, the leadership should bear in mind that even though it has been given the mandate today, others may be accorded the same mandate tomorrow. Hence, it can best exercise its mandate by making good use of the talents of those who stood for offices but did not receive a mandate by establishing advisory committees to which they are appointed and recognised as members. Ebrima Sawaneh made a proposal for a GPU publication. Since the GPU represents Journalists with different orientations it cannot have an editorial policy of its own. What it can do is to maintain a periodical that comes out every four or six months which may embody the lectures given by jurists on the media and the law, Trainers on Media practice and ethics and so on and so forth. An advisory committee of editors could be appointed to edit the reports presented at the congress for the first publication. It should be as broad based as possible.

The GPU leadership has a very heavy responsibility. This work will be done effectively if the tasks are decentralised. The tabling of bills on the Media should be preceded by the setting up of a committee comprising members of the bar association, seasoned ex parliamentarians and experienced media practitioners to review the provisions and give advice to the parliamentarians and the public regarding the implications.

A committee may be established for the protection and promotion of the welfare of journalists which could recommend the measures to be taken to handle such problems.

A Fund raising committee could also be established and Foroyaa is very willing to make annual contribution to GPU, if an amount is fixed by all Media houses.

The innovative measures are endless. Inclusiveness is the door and cooperation the key to have it opened.

We wish the leadership all the best.