By Arfang Madi Sillah, Washington DC
In the storied history of journalism, legal battles have always been an inherent part of theprofession. The boldness to publish comes with the responsibility to defend, and the bestnewspapers have weathered these legal storms with resilience, taking accountability fortheir actions. From Fleet Street to New York’s pressrooms, editors have fought tooth andnail over libelous or defamatory stories, armed with evidence or humility when they erred.
Yet, in The Gambia, newspapers have a penchant for publishing slanderous stories, andwhen summoned to court, they arrive not with confidence or evidence but with emptypockets and pleas for public sympathy. This is not the hallmark of a noble profession; it isthe behavior of opportunists who misuse the power of the press for quick sensationalism.
When Gambian newspapers fail in their duty to exercise caution and integrity, theycompromise not only their credibility but also the trust placed in them by their readers.Trust is the backbone of a functioning press, and its erosion signals a dangerous precedentfor democracy. Legal challenges are not aberrations but necessary checks, ensuring themedia remains both free and responsible. A media house unable to distinguish betweenthese concepts is one that has already lost its way.
The latest offender is The Alkamba Times, now embroiled in a lawsuit with Minister RoheyJohn Manjang over a bizarre and unsubstantiated accusation—that D150,000 from the saleof a mahogany tree was deposited into the minister’s bank account. Presented asinvestigative journalism, this story reeks of sensationalism devoid of the rigour that suchreporting demands. It is one thing to publish bold claims; it is quite another to back themwith evidence strong enough to withstand scrutiny.Instead of taking responsibility, The Alkamba Times has embarked on a shamelesscampaign, appealing to Gambians to fund their legal defense. This appeal, thinly veiled asa call to protect press freedom, is an insult to the public’s intelligence. Press freedom is nota blank cheque to defame without consequence, nor is it a shield to avoid accountability.
By reducing their defense to an emotional appeal for donations, the paper undermines thevery principles it claims to uphold. Gambian readers are now being asked to bear thefinancial burden of a media house unwilling to accept the responsibilities of its role.To grasp the folly of this approach, one need only look at Britain’s Fleet Street tabloids,where scandal and controversy are second nature. These newspapers have facedcountless lawsuits—many justified—yet they have never resorted to public panhandling.Take The Sun, infamous for its brash headlines and risky exposés. Whether accused ofdefamation or privacy breaches, The Sun fights its battles internally, settling claims whennecessary and defending its stories when warranted. Even The News of the World, whichmet its demise during the phone-hacking scandal, never stooped to begging the Britishpublic for financial support.
Contrast this with The Alkamba Times, which has chosen the undignified route ofcrowdfunding. Recent Gambian history offers a cautionary tale for those tempted todonate. Recall the fiasco between The Voice Newspaper and President Adama Barrow.
After publishing unsubstantiated allegations, The Voice sought donations under the guiseof protecting press freedom, only to capitulate and settle out of court. To this day, TheVoice has failed to account for the funds raised or whether any were returned to donors.
This glaring lack of transparency is not just irresponsible but exploitative. Such actionserode the fragile trust between the press and the public, damaging journalism’s integrity asa whole.
And yet, here we are again, with The Alkamba Times following the same tired script: cry“press freedom,” collect donations, and prepare for the inevitable climb-down when legalpressure becomes unbearable. What assurance do donors have that their money will notmeet the same fate as with The Voice? What guarantees can The Alkamba Times providethat this is truly a principled fight for press freedom and not just another chapter in theGambian media’s race to the bottom?The late Pa Nderry Mbai of Freedom Newspaper offers a stark contrast.
A towering figure inGambian journalism, Pa Nderry faced relentless legal battles from powerful figuresdetermined to silence him. Yet, not once did he pass the hat to the public.
He understoodthat credibility and independence are the twin pillars of journalism, and begging for fundscompromises both. A journalist’s work is his shield, and if that shield is flawed, it is thejournalist—not the public—who must bear the weight of its failure.What The Alkamba Times fails to grasp is that freedom of the press is not a shield forirresponsibility. It is a privilege that comes with the obligation to report accurately, fairly,and responsibly.
Reckless journalism undermines the very principles it purports to defend,and no amount of crowdfunding can restore the trust lost when a paper betrays its readers.Financial independence is the bedrock of credible journalism. Without it, a media housebecomes beholden to its donors, compromising its ability to hold power to account.The Gambian public deserves better. It deserves a press that is fearless but fair, audaciousbut accountable.
Journalism is not charity, and the public should not be expected tosubsidize recklessness disguised as press freedom. If The Alkamba Times wishes to betaken seriously, it must first take itself seriously—by standing by its stories when they areright and owning up to its errors when they are wrong. Anything less is a betrayal of theprofession and a disservice to the public.The path forward is clear: Gambian journalism must return to the basics of its craft—reportresponsibly, stand by its work, and fight its battles with integrity.
Begging for donations tofund legal challenges born of recklessness is not the solution; it is a symptom of a deepermalaise. Until Gambian newspapers learn to take responsibility for their actions, they willcontinue to lose the trust of the public they claim to serve.
The time has come for TheAlkamba Times—and indeed all Gambian media—to stop hiding behind the rhetoric ofpress freedom and start embodying the principles that make freedom of the press worthdefending. Only then can they hope to reclaim the respect and trust they have so recklesslysquandered