GPU Trains Community Radio Journalists on Local Language Election Reporting

The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has commenced a three-day training for community radio journalists on Local Language News Reporting in the Context of Elections in Jarra Soma, Lower River Region.

The training, running from 3–5 November 2026, is funded by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Dakar, Senegal, under a project aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity to combat information disorder and hate speech while promoting democratic governance.

Speaking at the opening, GPU Secretary General Modou S. Joof said the training seeks to address challenges faced by local language broadcasters in accurately translating and reporting news, particularly during the electoral cycle. He highlighted the importance of understanding the Gambia National Alphabet and Orthography as a standard for effective reporting in national languages.

The training brings together 20 journalists from 10 community radio stations and rural-based television correspondents. It is being conducted in collaboration with the Network of Community Radios and focuses on accurate translation, fact-based reporting, and combating misinformation and disinformation in election coverage.

The initiative aims to strengthen access to accurate and timely electoral information, enabling citizens, particularly rural communities, to make informed decisions during the 2026–2027 electoral cycle.