BAD JOURNALISM AT THE POINT NEWSPAPER!!!

“Journalism, and specifically the newspaper, ought to become a support system for public.” Jay Rosen

The sacking of Sports Minister Mass Axi  Gye was as a result of bad journalism at the Point Newspaper. The Minister was fed with an inaccurate information, which warranted his ugly reaction. The Minister believes that the best way to keep his job was to threaten Reporter Ebrima Manneh. He went as far as threatening to take his life. Point Newspaper insiders  have confirmed  to this medium that Manneh had a tape containing the voice of the disgraced Minister.

It was wrong for Pap Saine to dismiss Manneh’s story about the Sports Ministry in its entirety. Since he Saine has a special relationship with the sacked Minister, what’s wrong with getting the Minister’s side of the story and allow the readers to judge. Is the rule of fair play a thing of the past at the Point?  Saine uses his Editorial powers to censor the poor reporter. What a shame!!!

The private media in Africa, is faced by many challenges. While some repressive regimes, are hell bent on silencing dissent, some shameless editors abuse their editorial powers to censor local journalists. Ebrima Manneh was a victim of censorship. That’s the hard fact.

The future of Gambia’s private press is gloomy. With the exception of  the Foroyaa Newspaper, almost all other media outlets in the country, have proven to be puppets to the Government of the day.

Stories affecting the suffering masses are given less prominence these days. Newspaper pages are filled with propaganda stories, geared towards selling the image of the battered Government and other private establishments in the country.

“ Like other business managers, many news executives prefer not to offend investors or outrage potential advertisers by running too many investigative reports, especially business probes. Indeed, reporters have generally uncovered the business and ownership arraignments in their own industry.” Said author Richard Campbell.

The case of Ebrima Manneh reminds us about the above quotation. The poor journalist is a victim of conspiracy and censorship. Mass told him that he was too small to withstand him and that his story would never feature on the pages of the Point Newspaper. That, his boss Pap Saine was his boy and he better watches his back before he Manneh pay the price of being stubborn.

What happened to the story, which was  written by a Point reporter, quoting  Pap Saine as having denied reporting Reporter Ebrima Manneh  to Axi Gye? Why is the Point not keen at reporting the incident? What is the censorship all about? If  Pap’s hands are clean as he claimed, he ought to be bold enough to come out in the open locally??? Charity begins at home.

Bad journalism contributed to Axi’s removal. If Saine had professionally handled the story as expected, Axi would still have a job. Axi should not blame anyone for his mess. He sold his soul to the devil.

Finally,  it’s our firm belief that newspapers who are in the business of compromising internal editorial files would soon run out of audience. Like sources, reporters too should be protected come what may. They are the eyes and ears of newspapers. Reporters played pivotal role  in any media setting.

Pap Saine should stop socializing with public officials. His credibility is being put to question. He needs to safeguard his credibility for heaven sake. We rest our case!!