The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) recently concluded a three day retreat at the FIFA Gold Project in Yundum. The purpose of the retreat was to review and update the Institution’s policy documents with the aim to enhancing quality service delivery. Essa Sowe, Member of the MAJaC Board of Directors said the purpose of the retreat was to produce a functional definition of quality in terms of guaranteeing improved learner outcome. He pointed out that this is one way of fulfilling the requirements of the International Standard Organization (ISO) 9001 of 2015 and National Accreditation & Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA). Sowe stated that “allowing Staff for instance to review instruments that govern their conduct is the fairest way of engaging people. It increases the Staff sense of belonging and ownership.” Barrister Musa Barrow, a Trainer of Media Law & Ethics and International Human Rights at MAJaC said the retreat was successful as many documents were revived with the aim of uplifting them. He said such documents are significant for the effective running of an institution. "In anything you want to do as an institution, you have to possess the policy framework to be able to do that. With the policy framework, you're in a position to deliver the quality performance that you desired for,” he said. Mass Faye, Registration & Accreditation Officer at National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority, who was invited to present on NAQAA's requirements commended MAJaC for organising a retreat in a bid to improve standards. He said quality assurance is significant in improving and enriching an institution’s curriculum as well as addressing industry needs and gaps. He stated that quality assurance also ensures the availability of qualified trainers who can competently handle their subject areas. “When prescribed standards are met in our procedures, and systems, and processes, we say there is quality in them”, he noted. The NAQAA Registration & Accreditation Officer said quality looks at a range of issues which include human resources, governance, and the delivery of the programmes. Sang Mendy, Managing Director of MAJaC, in his closing remarks thanked Board members and staff for their show of commitment to improving quality at MAJaC. Among the documents reviewed are; Quality Policy, Quality Management System, Quality Management Indicator, Conditions of Service, and Trainer Observation Checklist among others.
The contribution of the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication-MAJaC to media development and strengthening democracy has been felt by not only Gambians, but also stakeholders closely working in and outside The Gambia. Locally, the institution receives commendation for producing great journalists. A Spanish journalists working with TVE (Spanish Public Television) is the latest to weigh into the discussion. She describes MAJaC as one of the most effective journalism and Communication training institutions in The Gambia saying she has been following MAJaC’s work since 2017. She points that she has seen the amount of award-winning journalists the institution produced within this short period. Pilar Requena, a TVE reporter covering foreign and international affairs made these remarks after she completed shooting a documentary at MAJaC. “I have noticed that in almost all media houses you visit in The Gambia, you’ll find MAJaC students there. This shows how effective the institution is”, Pilar explained. Requena hails MAJaC for producing responsible journalists and communicators. She says having good and responsible journalists could help reduce the unemployment rate and irregular migration. She tells MAJaC Media that she included the Academy in documentary they are shooting because of the institution’s involvement in the fight against irregular migration and youth empowerment. The documentary, Pilar says is looking into the lives of returnees, effects of irregular migration and how the youth could be encouraged to stay home through empowerment programmes such as training. The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication builds and nurtures critical minds for the rapidly evolving world of journalism and communication.
MAJaC is conducting a five week training on ethical reporting for journalists funded by Freedom House. The training would commence on 4th May to June 4, 2022. Interested persons can click on the link below and fill out the form to apply. Deadline for application is April 22nd 2022. Application Form
The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC) on Tuesday launched a project meant to build the capacity of twelve Civil Society Members and Community Media Staff in web management, public speaking, and other forms of communication. The project dubbed Outreach and Bottom-up: Expanding the Civic Space (OBECS) is funded by Civil Society in Development (CISU) and aimed at boosting the communication skills of CSOs and community media journalists to proactively engage their audience. Mrs. Meita Touray, Project Assistant said the project will empower CSOs with skills to create and sustain interactive radio concepts and content in local languages, develop web and social media platforms, and facilitate meetings with mutual learning with CBOs, all geared towards sustaining and encouraging interactive dialogue with their audience. “The current state of this country Calls for emboldened CSOs. This can only be achieved if organizations and institutions like MAJaC continually build the capacity of CSO members to effectively carry out their roles of holding the Government and its institution to account for their actions and inactions. This is also in line with the primary role of journalism thus the need for including community media in this project so that CSOs can reach out to their target communities using the community media, ” she said. She added that the Academy has over the years built the capacity of many civil society members in different thematic areas including advocacy and the use of digital media. And should be acknowledged for empowering community media staff with knowledge and skills relevant to their work. Mr. Alagie Cham representing the Executing Director of TANGO said civil society organizations are a driving force of successful policy advocacy and implementation in most societies. He said that CSOs and the media can thrive better in a democratically stable country where policies are favorable. He further thanked MAJaC for building the capacity of Gambian CSOs. Muhammed S. Bah, President of the Gambia press union said the project came at a time when the Gambia is experiencing a lot of pending reforms agenda, such as constitutional and legal reform, transitional justice reform, and security sector reform among other reforms that are relevant to the people of the Gambia. “In our world today, which is characterized by absolute social injustice, poverty, corruption, bad governance, and unjust distribution of wealth among other things, I believe the only sectors that can save the people of the world from these man-made menaces are vibrant media and CSOs,” Bah said. Bah further called on CSOs and community media staff to make the best use of the training saying that the knowledge and skill they will acquire will help them in their service to their audience.
The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication with partners last Thursday launched a five-week project to train journalists on ethical journalism. The project is meant to prepare journalists with the required skills and knowledge to do their work without any ethical problems. The training would give participants the skills in making ethical decisions in gathering and reporting their news stories. Speaking at the launch, Samba Bah the acting Managing Director, said MAJaC is experienced in implementing projects ranging from capacity building for civil society organisations, journalists and other media workers. He however urged the participants to take the training seriously. Bah further assured donors that the project will be implemented successfully by virtue of the Institutions experience in implementing projects. Representing the Media Council of the Gambia, Emil Touray former Gambia Press Union President said ethical gaps are often times committed by individuals who spent several years in the media who people think they ought to know better. He said the media must do business seriously in order for the public to take them seriously. However, Touray urged participants to participate in all activities of the training and also make good use of the knowledge they would gain. While encouraging trainers to come up with newspaper stories, audios and videos of some of these ethical challenges done by media practitioners, he encouraged the donors to provide more training on responsible journalism and media law for other journalists. The former GPU President, Touray said there is a need to also build the capacity of people who do not see themselves as journalists but do the work of a journalist as they make a lot of ethical errors. Demba Kandeh, the representative from Freedom House; the donor partners for the project said, the programme is funded by the United States Government through the United States Agency for International Development USAID. He said the number of journalists in the Gambia has increased giving the need for raising awareness on issues of ethical reporting. Kandeh assured that the trainers selected for the training are of competence and are up to the task. While hoping that participants take the training seriously. ‘I believe that journalism is more than reporting and presenting. It is about unifying people and promoting peaceful co existence and this can only be done by being truthful and independent,’ Adama Joof, a participant said The training would equip her with the required principles to guide her profession. She said any knowledge gained from the training would be well utilized in her journalistic works which she believes will make her work standout. The current President of the Gambia Press Union, Muhammed S. Bah was also in attendance and he made similar remarks.
The minister responsible for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Prof. Pierre Gomez, on Wednesday 22nd June 2022 promised to support MAJaC students with scholarships annually. He made the promise during a familiarization tour to Media Academy for Journalism and communication (MAJaC). The higher education minister Said “The Ministry will be giving scholarship packages to your students here every year. MAJaC is like all the other institutions, we cannot be promoting TVET and exclude MAJaC. So, everybody must be given their share because we are here to serve” The higher education minister Pierre Gomez while acknowledging the key role MAJaC is playing in the development trajectory of the country also highlighted his ministry will to contribute hugely in the Academy's future projects. Samba Bah, English Language Trainer and Acting MD said, it was very prudent to have the Minister visit the school as it’s one of the leading journalism training institutions and to abreast him with some of the challenges the school is confronted with. “We need capacity for some of our staff, and most importantly scholarships. We realise that, some of our students find it very difficult to pay their tuition fees and we would like the Minister to facilitate scholarships for some of the students” Mr Bah said. Ndey Ceesay Vice President of the MAJaC Student Union during her remarks highlighted some of the challenge students face. She called on the minister to help in the standardization of the both studios, radio and TV studios at the Academy to ease the burden on students during practical sessions. Ndey also called for support to expand the campus to accommodate more students and make the environment conducive for learning.