By: Nicholas Bass
Journalists under the banner of Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Thursday validated the revised version of an ethical journalism charter, known as the Chernor Jallow Charter at African Princess Hotel in Kotu.
Speaking at the event, Principal Magistrate Muhammed Krubally who is also the Chairman of National Advisory Council for Persons with disabilities, hailed the revised 2025 ethical journalism charter. He says the revised charter will serve as an established ‘’checklist’’ or guidelines that will regulate the conduct and professional values of journalists.
Magistrate Krubally states that the charter will call journalists to peace and order whenever they are reporting, they ought to do it with professionalism and ethical principles without necessarily ‘’flouting” the rules of journalism.
‘’I think the draft code of conduct and the charter are indeed very good criteria or pieces that can always guide journalists on the straight path,’’ he said.
He explained that the charter for ethics journalism was harmonized with the principles of persons with disabilities, United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Optional Protocols that The Gambia ratified in 2015 which was domesticated through persons with disabilities, 2021.
He urged journalists to operate within the dictates of the law, calling on the media to avoid hate speech that paints bad lights of The Gambian society.
Also, the Secretary General of The Gambia Press Union, Modou Joof applauded the participants, stressing that the revised draft of Cherno Jallow charter for ethical journalism came at a ‘’critical’’ time that will mitigate hate speech.
He stressed that criminalizing hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, fake news and the provision of disabilities would serve as guiding light for journalists on what ought to be done.
‘’It is our ethics and respect for the fundamental principles of journalism that gives the public trust in the media and that is what promotes accountability that the media is able to do its constitutionally mandated roles, holding the government to account,” he emphasized.
He described the participation of participants as an engaging one, adding that GPU had to invite journalists from the print, online, sports, persons with disabilities, civil societies amongst others.
Going further GPU Secretary General, Joof advised journalists and students learning journalism to uphold the ethics of journalism, noting that the public are watching to bring to the attention of the Media Council regarding any journalist that violates ethics for journalism.
