New SJAG executive tours media houses

Visiting team

The newly elected executive of the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) on Monday began its traditional tour of media houses with a visit to West Coast Radio.

The delegation, which comprised of Assistant Secretary General Alieu Ceesay, Treasurer Namory Trawally, and executive member Momodou Bah, had a fruitful discussion with the WCR acting managing director, Therese Gomez, and members of her senior management team.

Speaking at the meeting, Ceesay informed that the purpose of the visit was to introduce the new executive to the media chiefs and to update them on the plans of the executive in terms of moving the association forward.

 SJAG, he asserted, adopted a constitution to regulate its activities in accordance with ethics of sports journalism. “The fundamental mission and vision of the Sports Journalists Association shall be to enhance and develop sports journalism in The Gambia to the highest level. The association shall cooperate and work with all sporting associations and other stakeholders in The Gambia to attaining this goal.”

Alieu Ceesay, ASt. SG SJAG

Ceesay who is also a senior reporter with Daily Observer newspaper, told the West Coast Radio leadership that the new executive is ready to work with all the media chiefs in promoting the welfare of its members.

While thanking West Coast Radio for being the first to reply to their request for audience, Assistant SG Ceesay said the executive will continue to the other media houses in the coming days. 

On his part, Namory Trawally, treasurer of SJAG said the new executive is now taking a new dimension by giving the media houses the ownership of the association, noting that media houses now have the right to vote; unlike before when individual members used to vote. 

Trawally informed that the capacity building is very high on the agenda of the new executive, while calling for the collaboration and support of media chiefs. This, he said, will help to develop and improve the manner in which sports is being reported on the media, as many young people are now joining the trade.

According to him, the association in collaboration with The Gambia Press Union will organise series of training programmes where members will be examined at the end. 

On receiving the delegation, Therese Gomez, acting managing director of West Coast Radio, called for unity and hard work among the members of the association, something she opined is the only way to realising their objective as an association.  She urged members to learn from one another and to do away with in-fighting and character assassination on the media and internet. 

She concluded by thanking the new executive for the initiative to meet the media chiefs, while assuring of West Coast Radio’s support and collaboration at all times.

Gibril Jassey, Admin and Finance officer; and Hagie Drammeh, head of West Coast Radio’s Sports, both called for unity among the members. They encouraged members to be more objective in their reporting. 

While renewing their hopes in the new executive, they challenged the new executive to be more committed and open to the general membership. 

Meanwhile, the tour continues to other media houses.

Author: Lolly Camara of Observer