GPU, FAJARA: May 14: The Media Council of The Gambia (MCG) has sworn-in Mr Junkung
Jobarteh as Executive Secretary at a low-key event held today – Thursday May 14 – at the
headquarters of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) in Fajara.
Mr Jobarteh is an experienced and knowledgeable Gambian lawyer with a proven record of
professionalism and integrity. He holds master’s degree in law, LLB and BA in English and
History. He undertook a certificate-level course in Freedom of Expression at University of
Pretoria.
Until his appointment, Mr Jobarteh was the head of legal affairs at the Public Utilities
Regulatory (PURA), a semi-independent body regulating utilities, including broadcast media. He
previously worked as a magistrate and presided over the industrial tribunal as well as criminal
and civil cases. He has also worked as a journalist and child rights activist.
Meanwhile, the event also witnessed the swearing-in of two of the three members of the Ethics
Panel of the Council; Mr Madi Jobarteh, a civil society leader and Mr Salieu Taal, a prominent
lawyer and president of The Gambia Bar Association. The third member of the 3-person panel,
Mrs Amie Joof-Cole, a veteran journalist and gender rights activist is expected to take her oath
in the coming days.
The event was presided over by Mr. Nana Grey Johnson, chairman of the MCG. The veteran
journalist and dean of School of Journalism and Digital Media congratulated officials of the
Council and thanked them for accepting to be part of the self-regulatory mechanism for the
media industry. He said the panel will serve as a moral pillar for those who need a voice. He
also reminded the newly sworn in members that the nation and the people are depending on
them.
Mr Saikou Jammeh, the Secretary General of the GPU described the swearing-in event as a big
achievement for The Gambia, noting that ‘we are about to succeed in something many African
countries are yet to achieve’. He said the Gambia’s Media Council model is the first of its kind in
West Africa and beats all other Councils in Africa in terms of quality and diversity of
representation.
About the MCG
The Media Council was established by the GPU in December, 2018, as an independent self-
regulatory mechanism for addressing public complaints against the conduct of journalists.
The Council is a one-stop-shop mechanism that will regulate editorial content across all media
platforms – print, radio, television and online – by monitoring compliance of, and implementing
the industry-wide code of conduct that establishes ethical standards for journalism in The
Gambia.
The Council is governed by an 11-member Governing Council, comprising representatives from
the government, media, civil society, private sector, women rights activists and differently able
groups. The Governing Council has a dual role of exercising oversight over secretariat and
serving as appeal panel while the Ethics Panel presides over public complaints with respect to media publications.
