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ABOUT US


Our History

  • The Gambia Press Union (GPU) was established on April 20, 1979, as the umbrella organisation for media professionals in The Gambia. With trade union and professional pursuits, the Union is mandated to safeguard the welfare of media professionals and promote press freedom.
  • The registration is a culmination of a number of attempts that were frustrated. The first attempt to register an association of journalists was made in the 1940s following the enactment of the Newspaper Registration Act, 1934. The efforts led by Edward Francis Small curtailed by the colonial government, who would block another attempt in 1956. Following the attainment of independence in 1965, another attempt was made but it was again rejected. A breakthrough was eventually made in 1979. The founding fathers include William Dixon-Colley, Deyda Hydara, Baa Tarawale, M.B. Jones, Ngange Thomas and Pap Saine.
  • In over four decades of its existence, the Union has evolved from an organisation whose members used to gather under a veranda, to a prominent national labour and media rights organisation of international repute. The GPU now boasts of a rapidly increasing membership base of more than five hundred regular and freelance media professionals from print, radio, TV and online. The Union has a functioning Executive Committee that provides strategic leadership and effective oversight; a highly motivated and qualified staff that run its day-to-day affairs; and an expanding network of national and international partners that provide platform for opportunities of funding and contributing to the promotion of shared values and interests.
  • The GPU is one of most democratic and resilient organisations in the country. The Union has since its inception been holding periodic congress and change of leadership seven times since.

Bio of board members

    • Sheriff Bojang Jnr
    • Mustapha K. Darboe,
    • Mariatou Ngum
    • Pa Modou Faal
    • Sarjo Camara-Singateh
    • Mustapha Mbye
    • KEBBA JEFFANG
    • Fatou Sowe

Organisational Structure

    • Affiliates
    • Member/Partner Organisations
    • General Assembly
    • Executive Committee
    • Secretariat
    • Adhoc committees
  • General Assembly
  • The GPU is a membership-based organisation. The Union has more FIVE HUNDRED registered members who form the General Assembly, which is the highest decision making body of the Union. Membership is open to news and information professionals from state-owned, private and community-owned media of all types – print, radio, TV and online. Students and journalism trainers are also members.
  • The GPU convenes a General Meeting at least once every two months. Through this, members discuss and where necessary, make decisions on the work of the Union and key press freedom and welfare issues. Media professionals who are not registered do take part in the Union’s activities but do not have voting rights.
  • Executive Committee
  • The GPU Executive Committee is responsible for formulation of the Union’s policies and programmes. It exercises oversight over the Secretariat and comprises eight elected members and Secretary General who is appointed. The members are elected at the Congress of the General Assembly held every three years. The Executive Committee is headed by the President, who is assisted by a vice president.
  • The GPU convenes a General Meeting at least once every two months. Through this, members discuss and where necessary, make decisions on the work of the Union and key press freedom and welfare issues. Media professionals who are not registered do take part in the Union’s activities but do not have voting rights.
    • Vice President
    • Treasurer
    • President
    • Secretary General
    • Ethics and Disciplinary
    • Gender and Welfare
    • Programmes
  • The Ethics and Disciplinary Committee
  • This committee comprises seven people. Two of them are elected GPU Executive Committee members and five are coopted from among the members, in their diversity in terms of gender, type of media, expertise and responsibilities. One of the elected executive members serves as chair.
  • The committee is responsible for handling complaints over allegations of abuse and violation by a member. It presides over applications for media accreditation and press jackets.
  • Chair person
  • Vice chair
  • Member
  • Member
  • Member
  • Member
  • Member
  • Member
  • Secretary/Program Manager
  • Gender and Welfare Committee
  • This committee comprises seven people. Two of them are elected GPU Executive Committee members and five are coopted from among the members, in their diversity in terms of gender, type of media, expertise and responsibilities. One of the elected executive members serves as chair.
  • The committee is responsible for handling complaints and formulation policies around issues of gender and welfare of journalists, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, inequality and broader labour rights issues.
    • Chair person
    • Vice chair
    • Member
    • Member
    • Member
    • Member
    • Member
    • Member
    • Secretary/Program Manager
  • Programmes Committee
  • This Committee is responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the range of programmes implemented by the secretariat. It comprises three elected members of the Executive Committee.
  • Chair person
  • Vice chair
  • Member
  • Member
  • Secretary/Program Manager
  • Secretary General
  • The Secretary General is appointed by the Executive Committee and serves as the chief executive officer of The GPU. He/she sits on the committee to take minutes and guide discussions
  • Accountant
  • Secretary General
  • Programme Manager
  • Programme Officer for Freedom of Expression
  • Programme Officer for welfare & media development
  • Programme Officer for Communication
  • Programme Assistant (General)
  • Programme Assistant for Communications
  • Interns
  • Security
  • Cleaner
  • Affiliates
  • There are a number of press associations run by professional journalists in specialised fields of reporting, ranging from health to environment. The GPU has provided mechanisms for these organisations to become affiliates with a range of benefits, including capacity building of their members and strengthening of their own organisations. Affiliates are provided an office space at the GPU secretariat with free access to utilities and hands-on training opportunities.
  • Click here to access guidelines on affiliation
  • Here’s the list of press associations affiliated with the GPU
    1. 1.Young Journalist Association of the Gambia
    2. 2.Women Journalists Association of The Gambia
    3. 3.Network of Community Media Professionals
    4. 4.Bio-Diversity Action Journalists
    5. 5.Sports Journalists Association
    6. 6.Network of Agricultural Communicators
  • Member Organisations
  • The GPU is a member of a number of local and international organisations with shared interest. These include
    • IFJ-FAJ
    • The International Federation of Journalists is the world’s largest organisation of journalists. It has an Africa affiliate called the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ). As a member, the GPU contributes to the freedom and development of the media around the world.
    • IFEX-AFEX
    • International Freedom of Expression Exchange (Ifex) is the world’s largest network of civil society organisations involved in freedom of expression advocacy. The GPU was accepted into the network in 2019 and has since been contributing to the promotion of freedom of expression rights at the global stage.
    • ACHPR
    • The Africa Commission on Human and Peoples Rights is the human rights organ of the African Union. The body has granted an Observer Status to the GPU in 2015 and the Union has since engaged actively with the Commission.
    • MFWA
    • The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is a non-profit media rights organisation covering the West Africa sub-region.
    • CPA
    • Child Protection Alliance is a consortium of child rights organisations in The Gambia. The GPU is an institutional member of the Alliance, and through our partnership, the Union has built the capacity of journalists and developed standards in reporting children’s issues in the Gambia.
Read more

Our Staff

  • Saikou Jammeh, Secretary General
  • Saikou Jammeh joined the Gambia Press Union (GPU) as Secretary General in 2015. He has built a career as an essayist, journalist, communication strategist and media and freedom of expression rights advocate. He has more than ten years of professional experience, having worked extensively in the local media industry until the newspaper he edited was arbitrarily shut down by the former government. He became a freelance journalist and a Banjul-based stringer for a number of international news organisations, including The Guardian UK, Inter Press Service and Radio France International.
  • Lamin Jahateh, Programme Manager
  • Lamin Jahateh is a journalist by profession and career. He works at the Gambia Press Union (GPU) as programme manager. In this capacity, he heads the programme department of the Union and oversees the design and implementation of all the programmes and projects of the GPU secretariat.
  • Before the GPU, Jahateh was an editor with The Point, a renowned independent newspaper in The Gambia. He is also a stringer for Reuters news agency, and had served as a correspondent for Africa Press Agency. His work had appeared in several other international news outlets including Aljazeera English.
  • Jahateh holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Digital Media from the University of The Gambia and an Advanced Diploma from the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication, formerly Gambia Press Union School of Journalism.
  • Haddija Jawara, Programme Officer
  • Haddija Jawara is the Programme officer for the Gambia Press Union.
  • She has substantial experience in media work and coordinating activities over the years, as well as managing leadership positions such as coordinating the Gambia Press Union School of Journalism, serving as treasurer of the Gambia Press Union board.
  • Haddija has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of The Gambia and a Diploma in Journalism from Gambia Press Union School of Journalism.
  • Buba Fatty, Accountant
  • Buba Fatty is the Accountant for The Gambia Press Union secretariat since January 2018. He is responsible for all financial related transactions of the Union.
  • Buba is ACCA Part Qualified and is experience in managing Donor funded project in donor funded organizations.
  • He worked for a UNICEF supported program supporting 500 Orphans and Vulnerable children in Upper and Central River Regions of The Gambia implemented by Catholic Development Office.
  • Mass Njie, IT intern
  • Mass Njie is the Gambia Press Union’s IT intern. He is responsible for updating and maintaining the union’s website, graphics job and Multimedia.
  • He is a dedicated and industrious young man, that has the zeal and love for youth development and humanitarian work. He is an International Youth Parliament Ambassador of the Gambia and a member of the Gambia Red Cross Society, volunteering in many community services to serve the people and aid those in need.
  • Mammy Saidykhan, Communication Intern
  • Mammy Saidykhan our communications intern, is one of the promising female journalists breaking barriers in the media.
  • She went to Nusrat Senior Secondary School before pursuing a diploma Programme in Journalism at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication MAJaC, formerly GPU School of Journalism.
  • She started as a freelancer at Seni-Gambia, one of the general interest newspapers newly established after the change of government, Kerr Fatu a Gambian online news portal and has also gathered experience working with a number of leading national dailies.
  • She is the minister for Welfare and Extracurricular Activities of the MAJaC Student Union.

Bio of board members

    • Sheriff Bojang Jnr
    • Mustapha K. Darboe,
    • Mariatou Ngum
    • Pa Modou Faal
    • Sarjo Camara-Singateh
    • Mustapha Mbye
    • KEBBA JEFFANG
    • Fatou Sowe

Bio of board members

    • Sheriff Bojang Jnr
    • Mustapha K. Darboe,
    • Mariatou Ngum
    • Pa Modou Faal
    • Sarjo Camara-Singateh
    • Mustapha Mbye
    • KEBBA JEFFANG
    • Fatou Sowe
...

Mission & Vision

Mission

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Vision

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Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.

    • Affiliates
    • Member/Partner Organisations
    • General Assembly
    • Executive Committee
    • Secretariat
    • Adhoc committees

General Assembly

The GPU is a membership-based organisation. The Union has more FIVE HUNDRED registered members who form the General Assembly, which is the highest decision making body of the Union. Membership is open to news and information professionals from state-owned, private and community-owned media of all types – print, radio, TV and online. Students and journalism trainers are also members.

The GPU convenes a General Meeting at least once every two months. Through this, members discuss and where necessary, make decisions on the work of the Union and key press freedom and welfare issues. Media professionals who are not registered do take part in the Union’s activities but do not have voting rights.

  • Vice President
  • Treasurer
  • President
  • Secretary General
  • Ethics and Disciplinary
  • Gender and Welfare
  • Programmes

Executive Committee

The GPU is a membership-based organisation. The Union has more FIVE HUNDRED registered members who form the General Assembly, which is the highest decision making body of the Union. Membership is open to news and information professionals from state-owned, private and community-owned media of all types – print, radio, TV and online. Students and journalism trainers are also members.

The GPU convenes a General Meeting at least once every two months. Through this, members discuss and where necessary, make decisions on the work of the Union and key press freedom and welfare issues. Media professionals who are not registered do take part in the Union’s activities but do not have voting rights.

Secretariat

  • Saikou Jammeh, Secretary General
  • Saikou Jammeh joined the Gambia Press Union (GPU) as Secretary General in 2015. He has built a career as an essayist, journalist, communication strategist and media and freedom of expression rights advocate. He has more than ten years of professional experience, having worked extensively in the local media industry until the newspaper he edited was arbitrarily shut down by the former government. He became a freelance journalist and a Banjul-based stringer for a number of international news organisations, including The Guardian UK, Inter Press Service and Radio France International.
  • Lamin Jahateh, Programme Manager
  • Lamin Jahateh is a journalist by profession and career. He works at the Gambia Press Union (GPU) as programme manager. In this capacity, he heads the programme department of the Union and oversees the design and implementation of all the programmes and projects of the GPU secretariat.
  • Before the GPU, Jahateh was an editor with The Point, a renowned independent newspaper in The Gambia. He is also a stringer for Reuters news agency, and had served as a correspondent for Africa Press Agency. His work had appeared in several other international news outlets including Aljazeera English.
  • Jahateh holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Digital Media from the University of The Gambia and an Advanced Diploma from the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication, formerly Gambia Press Union School of Journalism.
  • Haddija Jawara, Programme Officer
  • Haddija Jawara is the Programme officer for the Gambia Press Union.
  • She has substantial experience in media work and coordinating activities over the years, as well as managing leadership positions such as coordinating the Gambia Press Union School of Journalism, serving as treasurer of the Gambia Press Union board.
  • Haddija has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from the University of The Gambia and a Diploma in Journalism from Gambia Press Union School of Journalism.
  • Buba Fatty, Accountant
  • Buba Fatty is the Accountant for The Gambia Press Union secretariat since January 2018. He is responsible for all financial related transactions of the Union.
  • Buba is ACCA Part Qualified and is experience in managing Donor funded project in donor funded organizations.
  • He worked for a UNICEF supported program supporting 500 Orphans and Vulnerable children in Upper and Central River Regions of The Gambia implemented by Catholic Development Office.
  • Mass Njie, IT intern
  • Mass Njie is the Gambia Press Union’s IT intern. He is responsible for updating and maintaining the union’s website, graphics job and Multimedia.
  • He is a dedicated and industrious young man, that has the zeal and love for youth development and humanitarian work. He is an International Youth Parliament Ambassador of the Gambia and a member of the Gambia Red Cross Society, volunteering in many community services to serve the people and aid those in need.
  • Mammy Saidykhan, Communication Intern
  • Mammy Saidykhan our communications intern, is one of the promising female journalists breaking barriers in the media.
  • She went to Nusrat Senior Secondary School before pursuing a diploma Programme in Journalism at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication MAJaC, formerly GPU School of Journalism.
  • She started as a freelancer at Seni-Gambia, one of the general interest newspapers newly established after the change of government, Kerr Fatu a Gambian online news portal and has also gathered experience working with a number of leading national dailies.
  • She is the minister for Welfare and Extracurricular Activities of the MAJaC Student Union.

Affiliates

    Affiliates

  • There are a number of press associations run by professional journalists in specialised fields of reporting, ranging from health to environment. The GPU has provided mechanisms for these organisations to become affiliates with a range of benefits, including capacity building of their members and strengthening of their own organisations. Affiliates are provided an office space at the GPU secretariat with free access to utilities and hands-on training opportunities.
  • Click here to access guidelines on affiliation
  • Here’s the list of press associations affiliated with the GPU
    1. 1.Young Journalist Association of the Gambia
    2. 2.Women Journalists Association of The Gambia
    3. 3.Network of Community Media Professionals
    4. 4.Bio-Diversity Action Journalists
    5. 5.Sports Journalists Association
    6. 6.Network of Agricultural Communicators

member-organisations

    Member Organisations

  • The GPU is a member of a number of local and international organisations with shared interest. These include
    • IFJ-FAJ
    • The International Federation of Journalists is the world’s largest organisation of journalists. It has an Africa affiliate called the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ). As a member, the GPU contributes to the freedom and development of the media around the world.
    • IFEX-AFEX
    • International Freedom of Expression Exchange (Ifex) is the world’s largest network of civil society organisations involved in freedom of expression advocacy. The GPU was accepted into the network in 2019 and has since been contributing to the promotion of freedom of expression rights at the global stage.
    • ACHPR
    • The Africa Commission on Human and Peoples Rights is the human rights organ of the African Union. The body has granted an Observer Status to the GPU in 2015 and the Union has since engaged actively with the Commission.
    • MFWA
    • The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is a non-profit media rights organisation covering the West Africa sub-region.
    • CPA
    • Child Protection Alliance is a consortium of child rights organisations in The Gambia. The GPU is an institutional member of the Alliance, and through our partnership, the Union has built the capacity of journalists and developed standards in reporting children’s issues in the Gambia.

Subsidiaries

MAJaC

The Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), formerly called GPU School of Journalism, was formally registered and accredited by the National Quality and Accreditation Authority (NAQAA) in 2013. This followed a two-year pilot programme and it is the first specialised formal journalism training centre in the country. In 2017, the School has revised its curriculum to being it in line with the UNESCO Model Curriculum for Journalism Education in Africa. Like the GPU, MAJaC has evolved quite impressively. Although a training arm of the Union, the Academy is independently run by highly qualified staff and board of trustees. It has a radio and television studio for training purposes.

In August 2017, the School signed a memorandum of understanding with the School of Journalism and Digital Media at the University of the Gambia. This MoU allows students who graduate at the GPU School at advanced diploma level to benefit from credit waivers and graduate after two years, instead of undergoing a full four-year programme. The collaboration also formalises the use of GPU premises and facilities by UTG students and discussions are ongoing to deepen this understanding to cover exchange of students and lecturers.

Printing Press

In May 2011, the US Embassy in Banjul donated to the GPU a Double Head HEIDELBERG MOZ E Printing Press and 20 KVA Generator. This gesture offered improved quality and regular printing of newspapers at below-market rates.

Credit Union

After rigorous consultations in the face of high demand, the GPU in 2019 set a credit union facility for media practitioners. The credit union aims to provide improved savings platform and access to micro-credit facility for media practitioners with a view to improving their living and working conditions.

Want to join the Credit Union?

You can access to form here

You can access FAQs here

Careers

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.