The media plays a crucial role in shaping a healthy and vibrant democracy. It is the backbone of any functioning democracy. This book evaluates the role of the news media in The Gambia, in a variety of contexts and the major constraints and challenges which prevent journalism from fulfilling these ideal roles, and the most effective policy interventions available to strengthen the contribution of the news media to both democratic governance and human development. Specifically, it investigates the relationship between the Gambian Press and the military and quasi-military regimes in The Gambia, in the context of press freedom. This book examines in great detail decrees and laws enacted by the AFPRC-APRC regimes which restricted press freedom during the period of military rule in The Gambia and also in the post-coup era. Furthermore, it identifies and analyses the institutional, legal and non-legal measures and mechanisms utilized by the AFPRC-APRC regimes in controlling the Gambian press from 1994 to date. This work also examines both "direct" and "indirect" forms of manipulation the Jammeh regime used-forms that have ranged from selective assassination, extra-constitutional decrees, and promulgation of retroactive laws, to bribery, compulsion to self-censorship, and the offer (and acceptance) of lucrative press relations jobs in the government. This work attempts to address this question: how far can autocracies strengthen popular support by silencing dissent and manipulating the news? The many ways that autocracies seek to control the media are documented. How far has the Gambian leader, with the restrictive media environment in the country, succeeded in manipulating public opinion and strengthening his support at home?

DELAYED DEMOCRACY: HOW PRESS FREEDOM COLLAPSED IN THE GAMBIA

A Proposition for Research in The Gambian Journalism History 1965-2013

By Alagi Yorro Jallow

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Alagi Yorro Jallow
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-4918-0662-3

Contents

Dedication.................................................................
vii
Acknowledgments............................................................
ix
Abstract...................................................................
xi
Preface....................................................................
xv
Foreword...................................................................
xix
Introduction...............................................................
1
Brief History of The Gambia................................................
5
A Sketch of Politics in The Gambia.........................................
8
The Fourth Estate..........................................................
10
The Role of Journalists....................................................
12
The Concept of Press Freedom...............................................
13
Overview of the African Press..............................................
17
Early Development of the Press in The Gambia...............................
20
Pre-Independence Newspapers: 1883-1965.....................................
21
The Various Pre-Independence Newspapers....................................
22
Other Publications.........................................................
26
Circulation Information....................................................
26
Post-Independence Newspapers: 1965-2013....................................
26
Policies Governing the Establishment of Newspapers in The Gambia...........
27
Broadcasting in The Gambia.................................................
29
Radio Broadcasting in The Gambia...........................................
29
Telegraph Station Act, 1913................................................
31
Brief Overview of Current Media Outlets....................................
33
The Gambian Constitutions and Press Freedom................................
34
National Media Commission Act..............................................
42
Lawsuit against the National Media Commission Act..........................
44
Defendants' Response.......................................................
50
Initial Supreme Court's Rulings............................................
55
Reaction to the Supreme Court's Rulings....................................
57
Additional Acts Suppressing the Media......................................
58
The Press under the "Civilian Government": 1997-2013.......................
60
Further Actions against Members of the Press...............................
67
Libel......................................................................
67
Sedition...................................................................
68
Censorship.................................................................
68
The Impact of Press Freedom on Processes of Democratization................
70
Theoretical Framework of Limits on Press Freedom...........................
71
Techniques of Suppression: Subverting Freedom of Expression................
72
Theoretical Framework on Press Freedom and Government Relations............
73
Hegemony as a Model of the Press-Government Relationship...................
75
Hegemonic Elements in Yahya Jammeh.........................................
77
E-Democracy: Using Information and Communication Technologies in the 
Democratic ProcessS........................................................
86
The Status of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in The 
Gambia Today...............................................................
87
Suggested Objectives of the Media..........................................
89
General Objectives.........................................................
89
Specific Objectives........................................................
90
Challenges in the Media Sector.............................................
91
Recommended Reform to Media in The Gambia..................................
91
The Internet and Political Repression......................................
93
Conclusion.................................................................
96