I begin this week’s review by wishing Gainako a very happy first anniversary. I personally thank you for giving me space on numerous occasions to make my voice heard. The reactions to my articles published on your website contributed immensely to inspiring this blog. I started receiving numerous emails from Gambians around the world encouraging me to continue writing and this made me feel the need to start my own blog thus freeing you from threats of “law suits” frivolous as they may be. I hope you continue on the path of education, information and tolerance to freedom of expression that you displayed this whole year. Congratulations and please continue in your strive to improve and be the best you can be in what you do.
What Is Yahya Jammeh's Relationship With Vivian N'dour? http://www.thegambiaecho.com/Homepage/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/737/Default.aspx
The Gambia Echo reports on an alleged relationship between Jammeh and the Senegalese musician. Sadly, competition with Freedomnewspaper along with personal vengeance is sinking the standards of this paper lower and lower. Most I hold The Echo in the ranks of our Gambian version of "New York Times" etc. However, their latest post on gossip and rumors about Jammeh's extra marital affairs really brings the paper down to the Freedom Newspaper status of "National Enquirer" tabloid newspaper. Names like "Jennet muna lai" etc are NOT characteristics of a respectable newspaper. Believe it or not even well-meaning Gambians who are anti-Jammeh will not be interested in such gossip . I understand it would be a reflection of poor character but I believe the Jammeh government does things that are much worse and negatively affects the lives of Gambians on a daily basis. Just how you can even talk about this when the sale of Gamtel has not left our minds is unbelievable to me. Cement costs are monopolized and unbearable. Fatou Jaw Manneh's case still lingers on between courts and the exchange rate is ridiculously unstable. These and other issues are of much more relevance to Gambians than The president's silly unfaithfulness. Even if you're going to highlight it, the least you can do is to give solid evidence (or tell us how it affects us) instead of the “Baba Galleh Jallow characters”.
EDWARD DAVID SINGHATEH TUMBLES- "GREAT DAY FOR JUSTICE"
http://www.thegambiaecho.com/Homepage/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/757/Default.aspx
Bravo to The Echo for being the first to report the story of Edward Singhateh’s dismissal. However, again the “credit” is tainted by another demonstration of biased reporting. Instead of celebrating, your job is to INFORM your readers. In addition, it seems to me that the Echo has already tried and prosecuted Singhateh for numerous crimes. I’m sure that as “students of Literature, History and Political Science”, you know that regardless of how strong of a case “prosecutors” might have, every man is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. At the risk of being accused of defending Singateh (because I’m sure some idiot will see it that way), all you have are allegations and until someone tries and finds Singateh (and others) guilty, he is presumed innocent. It might be ok for civilians to make the mistake but it is tragic coming from journalists and people who should be better informed. You don’t need to be “students of law” to know that.
I also found it very juvenile that the editors of this paper decided to have Singateh’s picture “upside down”. I hate to repeat myself but these remind me of the days Freedomnewspaper would distort Jammeh’s pictures. Thankfully for them, they listened to Louis Friend’s advice (reluctantly I’m sure) and ceased the kindergarten act. Hopefully the dismissal of Singhateh will ease some of pain for the Echo and they’ll see the sense in what I’m saying. Please remember that people like Senegambianews look up to you. Like lost children, they blindly follow you and even published the same “upside down” picture just like you did. You owe it to them to set a good example of mature, professional and responsible journalism.
I was going to comment on this story but unfortunately it has been pulled from their website. It was about some people who allegedly thought they were free from criticism by the Echo simply because they had made some donations to the website. This was the Echo’s warning that no one is immune to their criticism.
Publishing the article and pulling it down so quickly is evidence of another emotional, impulsive publication which characterizes this website. Instead of thinking carefully before publishing, they just reacted to their anger and only later realized or were advised that it wasn’t the best move. Anyway, I hope they learn from this and reflect before reacting next time.
Two Journalists Arrested and held Incommunicado
http://www.thegambiajournal.com/artman/publish/article_1291.shtml
By now I’m sure we’ve all heard about the arrest and detention of Malick Jones and Mam Sait Ceesay. I personally have no problem with prosecuting anyone, journalist or medical doctor, as long as they are guilty of a crime. Things however need to be conducted in legal way and I hope these two, as well as all others, are given every chance under the constitution to prove their innocence.
I know the media is up in arms about this and are giving it a lot of attention and coverage as it deserves. I’d just like to remind you that the Ebrima Chief Manneh and the Fatou Jaw Manneh cases both need and deserve continuous coverage until they can both join you in writing again.
Metastasizing???-http://www.thegambiaecho.com/Homepage/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/747/Default.aspx - Ok, I know it’s the same article I already commented on but I just have to say to the writer…if you can’t see anything wrong with using ALTHOUGH and HOWEVER in the sentence “Although no outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) disease has been reported in The Gambia so far, however, reports have it that the H5N1 is spreading rapidly across the world”… it would probably be a good idea to stay away from big words such as “Metastasizing”. I guess you just had to “fit in” writing for the Echo.
Freedom’s Editor number One on
Ok guys; hold your horses just a minute. I know you clarified that the “source” of this article was not verified but don’t you find this a bit “too good to be true”? Are you so disillusioned about how important you are? After reporting or reading about Gambian dissidents wanting to overthrow the government, don’t you think former military personnel accused of failed coup attempts would be a tad bit above some self-exiled “journalist”? For your information, that’s part of the job of an editor…to edit which stories are credible enough to deserve a second look and which ones belong in your trash can. It makes absolutely NO SENSE and you shouldn’t even have bothered reading the second name when you found yours as number one.
Editorial: A plea to
http://www.senegambianews.com/article.cfm?articleID=1899
This story caught my eye and I’m having a hard time deciding whether the writer is an ignorant retarded dummy OR a dumb ignorant retard. I’ll comment on it when I come up with an answer. Stay posted for the article.
Finally, as Muslims begin the holy month of Ramadan, I would like to seek forgiveness from all readers, writers and editors if I offended you in any way. My articles, no matter how harsh, are not at all intended to harass, offend or to intimidate anyone. They’re meant to give readers something “different” and thought-provoking. I also hope that the writers and editors will be inspired to improve knowing that they’re accountable to the readers, myself included. Blessed Ramadan to all.
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