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 and partners launch a three-month “Innovate to Combat Emigration” project, which aims to unlock potentials through training and creating employment opportunities for young people. The project is a mini grant that seeks to equip MAJaC and partners, the Gambia Media Support-GAMES (a Danish-based media development organisation) with relevant information, understanding and insight of what is needed in terms of media and its related fields to help curb irregular migration. Sang Mendy, the Managing Director of MAJaC says The Gambia, like many African countries, continues to struggle with irregular migration, despite small its population. “We are on this fact-finding mission of taping ideas and collecting information to enable us apply for funding that will build the capacity of more young people in areas such as communication and public relations, creative and graphic designs, film and photography, digital media development and management, media innovation and entrepreneurship etc., aside our flagship journalism training programme,” Mendy stated. Modou S. Joof, Secretary General of the Gambia Press Union recognises the importance of the initiative, and highlights the significant role that MAJaC and GPU play in combating irregular migration. “In 2021 and 2022, we (GPU) conducted trainings on migration reporting, to enable journalists to understand the dynamics and context of migration,” Joof added. During the three-month period, MAJaC officials will hold series of meetings and consultations with civil society organisations, youth groups, the media, national and international organisations involved in the fight against irregular migration. The purpose of these meetings with the mentioned stakeholders is to harvest ideas, action points and proposals on how to combat irregular migration through training. At the end of the project, an action plan would be developed to promote communication, creative design, media, innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills training opportunities for youths, and offer alternatives to irregular migration. The joint response would create a civic platform to combat irregular migration from The Gambia to Europe.