GPU Trains Over 100 Journalists, Steps Up Election Safety Efforts

By Seedy Jobe

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has trained more than 100 journalists in election reporting and safety as part of preparations for the December 5 presidential election, while intensifying engagements with security forces and political parties to prevent attacks and intimidation.

GPU Secretary General Modou S. Joof disclosed this during an appearance on QTV’s This Morning program on Thursday, saying the union has conducted about five safety training sessions since January.

The latest training, which concluded on Wednesday, covered election reporting, countering hate speech, physical and digital security, and hazardous environment awareness.

Mr. Joof said the programs, conducted in collaboration with Reporters Without Borders and supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives, are intended to equip journalists with the skills to report safely in potentially hostile environments.

He stressed that journalists cannot provide voters with reliable information to make informed decisions if their safety is compromised.

Participants in the latest training also received first-aid safety kits for use during election coverage.

Beyond training, Mr. Joof said the GPU has held five engagements with the police this year, including discussions involving military personnel, police prosecutors and state prosecutors. The union has also engaged political parties through the Inter-Party Committee.

He identified police officers and political party supporters as historically significant sources of physical attacks and verbal abuse against journalists, warning that inflammatory statements by political leaders sometimes contribute to such incidents.

The union’s most recent engagement was a pre-deployment meeting involving 40 police officers expected to serve during the election and approximately 30 journalists.

The discussions focused on press freedom, freedom of expression, journalists’ constitutional role in holding public officials accountable, and the need to ensure unrestricted access to information during election coverage.

Mr. Joof said the initiative was intended to improve understanding between journalists and security personnel and prevent unnecessary restrictions on reporters’ movements.

He added that the training programs also included community radio journalists and rural correspondents, ensuring that safety preparations extended beyond urban media organizations.

The GPU, he said, monitors the effectiveness of its training through assessments and long-term evaluations. It also maintains a dedicated safety officer, 10 trained safety trainers, including board member Paul Steven of Star FM, and a part-time monitor responsible for documenting press freedom violations.

On political parties’ commitment to journalists’ safety, Mr. Joof said no formal pledges had yet been signed. However, the Inter-Party Committee has recommended including provisions protecting journalists in the revised code of conduct for political parties and candidates.

He said the GPU is working on a formal pledge for political parties to sign.

Mr. Joof also raised concerns about intimidation at political press conferences, where supporters sometimes surround journalists and create a hostile environment for critical questioning.

Recalling a 2017 incident in which a journalist was assaulted and had his shirt torn after asking a critical question, he urged political parties to limit press conferences to officials and journalists.

Regarding the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Joof said the electoral body remains a crucial partner, although the two institutions have not held direct bilateral meetings this year.

He said they continue to engage through the National Election Response Group and other election-related platforms, while the IEC has consulted the GPU on media briefings, coordination and press accreditation.

Mr. Joof emphasized that the union’s priority is to ensure journalists can cover the electoral process independently and safely, without intimidation or interference from security personnel or political actors.