Shape International

Need to Know Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Fresh useful insights for people advancing quality, innovative and sustainable journalism OFF THE TOP   You might have heard:  Deadspin’s staff was ordered to stop covering topics that weren’t related to sports  (The Daily Beast) But did you know:  G/O Media executive defends firing Deadspin editor for not sticking to sports  (The Daily Beast) On Monday, G/O Media editorial director Paul Maidment ordered Deadspin’s staff to stop covering topics that weren’t related to sports. A day later, the company fired deputy editor Barry Petchesky “for not sticking to sports,” the journalist  said on Twitter.  “We are sorry that some on the Deadspin staff don’t agree with that editorial direction, and refuse to work within that incredibly broad mandate,” Maidment said. In April, private equity firm Great Hill Partners purchased Gizmodo Media Group, now G/O Media, and the sports-only mandate followed several m...

Hassoum Ceesay Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) has assured his institution and Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s resolve to continue supporting the promotion of reading and writing culture in The Gambia. This is meant to address the poor reading and writing culture of Gambians, said Hassoum Ceesay. Mr Ceesay, a member of Writers Association of The Gambia (WAG), and immediate former VP of WAG was made this remarks on 26 October 2019 at the Confernce Hall of the NCAC   during an International Press Briefing convened by WAG in collaboration with NCAC, to update the media on WAG’s activities. He   assured WAG of his institution’s satisfaction in WAG’s work to promoting Gambian literature, Gambian renewed culture and literacy. He said the NCAC and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture are very happy with the work of WAG. Adding that all WAG is doing falls within the parameters of the National Development Plans, particular in the a...

Despite not been able to participate in Quadrennial Periodic Reporting (QPR) since the ratification of the UNISCO 2005 Convention The Gambia has finally submitted its quadrennial report, as the first member State submitting the new UNESCO Monitoring Framework.  The Gambia ratified  the  2005 UNESCO Convention  in 2011, and the first QPR was due in 2015, but was not possible due to unfavourable political environment. Mr Hassoum Ceesay - the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture disclosed that The Gambia has for the first time submitted its Quadrennial Periodic Report (QPR), making the country the first State Party to summit QPR using the new Monitoring Framework. “This is also the very first QPR prepared by a Party using the new Monitoring Framework of the Convention, adopted by the last Conference of Parties in June 2019,” said Mr Ceesay. Acknowledging receipt of the Report Officials at the UNESCO Head Office states: “We’re p...

Binta Badjie- the newly elected President of The Gambia Association of Deaf and  Heard of Hearing (GADHOH) has said that Deaf People are lacking access to quality education, good health care, employment, while their rights are being violated at work places. Ms Badjie said during a recent interview with Shape International at the Gadhoh Head Office in Kanifing that deaf people face challenges in hospitals, noting: "Doctors give wrong prescription to deaf patient due to language barriers." She said for this reason she will during her tenure in office   partner with Hospitals and The Gambia Nurses Association to make sure deaf people have confidence in Doctors’ treatments.  “We will organise training for Doctors and Nurses to foster communication and understanding with their Deaf patients. We will visit health training institutions, to talk to incoming Nurses about providing efficient health care service for Deaf people.  Health and communicatio...

Members of the Gambia Association of Deaf and Heard of Hearing (GADHOH) has called for unity among members and work together towards achieving common objectives. Speaking during events marking International Deaf Week Celebration, various Gadhoh members expressed the need for unity among members, stop gossiping, backbiting, and work together, noting that division makes organisations fail. Deaf Week is celebrated in the last week of September every year, but in The Gambia Deaf Week could not be celebrated as supposed due to organisational challenges. "However, at Gadhoh we take it upon ourselves to celebrate the Deaf Week this year on 11 and 12 October, by holding Congress and restructuring a Gadhoh National Female Wing, which bring together representatives from each of the 12 Gadhoh branches from all the regions of the country," said Dodou Loum, Executive Director of Gadhoh in a brief chart.   The Congress held on 11 October 2019 at the Gadhoh headquarters brought...

By Madi S. Njie As The Gambia reviews for first time QPR reporting, the  past hostile political climate is blamed for the country’s failure to benefit from the International Funds for Cultural Development (IFCD), which other signatories’ to the 2005 UNESCO Convention has been benefiting from. Mr Hassoum Ceesay, the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) disclosed that despite the availability of funds at the ICFD, The Gambia has never benefitted from such funds, despite ratifying the 2005 UNESCO Convention that qualifies member countries to benefit. Mr Ceesay said The Gambia is yet benefit from The UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expression s  funds because the country has never participated in the  Quadrennial Periodic Reporting (QPR), which qualifies countries to benefit from IFCD. Mr Ceesay said the lack of reporting was due to the unfavourable political situation of the cou...