The Gambian Press Union (GPU), MFWA’s country partner in The Gambia, has empowered forty (40) journalists with essential skills in both physical and online safety. The training aimed to equip beneficiaries with proactive and, where necessary, reactive measures to prevent and withstand attacks related to their work.
From 26th to 28th August 2025, training sessions were held in Banjul, The Gambia’s capital, with funding support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The activity formed part of a twelve-month project: “Strengthening Journalists’ Capacity to Report on Transitional Justice.”
Participants, drawn from newspapers, online platforms, radio, and television, received training in lifesaving safety tips, secure editorial practices, and organizational safety policies. They also acquired the requisite knowledge and skills to conduct risk assessments before embarking on potentially dangerous assignments.
The training further enhanced journalists’ cybersecurity awareness by sensitizing them to threats such as phishing, malware, and spyware. It also strengthened their capacity in safe browsing practices and digital security incident response.
Ahead of the training, GPU Board Treasurer, Meita Touray, described the initiative as crucial and timely. “The training is crucial and timely, considering the current situation in The Gambia, where journalists are often exposed to safety threats during coverage of political events, protests, and other critical reporting areas,” she said.
She added: “The media sector in The Gambia is growing and becoming increasingly complex and charged. We are witnessing with concern the re-emergence of old and new threats, both physical and online. Therefore, the need to train our members on how to protect themselves in the field is paramount.”
Touray concluded that the training was a direct response to the daily risks journalists face in their quest to report on critical national issues.
