By Abdou Mbye
Government communications officers have successfully completed a four-day practical training in visual storytelling and video production, aimed at strengthening their capacity to produce compelling, professional and impactful digital content for public communication.
The intensive training, which concluded on Thursday, July 30, at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communications (MAJAC) in Bakau, brought together communications officers from various government ministries, departments and agencies.
Organised by the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services (MoIMBS) through the Department of Information Services (DoIS), the training formed part of ongoing efforts to equip government communications personnel with the modern skills required to effectively tell the story of government through digital and multimedia platforms.
The practical sessions exposed participants to key areas of visual storytelling, video production, digital content creation and video editing, providing them with hands-on experience to complement their existing communication and reporting skills.
The training comes at a time when government communication is increasingly shifting from traditional text-based reporting to dynamic and visually engaging digital content, as audiences consume information through websites, social media platforms and other multimedia channels.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr James Mendy, Director of Training at MAJAC, commended the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services and the Department of Information Services for initiating what he described as an insightful and timely capacity-building programme.
He said the training provided communications officers with valuable skills that would enhance their ability to effectively communicate government programmes, policies and development initiatives.
Mr Mendy urged participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice, stressing that the true value of the training would be reflected in the quality of content produced in their respective institutions.
Representing the participants, Ms Aminata Sanneh, Senior Communications Officer at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure (MoTWI), expressed appreciation to the Government of The Gambia, the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, the Department of Information Services and MAJAC for providing the opportunity.
She described the training as highly beneficial, noting that it had provided participants with new knowledge and practical skills that would improve the way they document and communicate government activities.
Reflecting on her own professional journey, Ms Sanneh said returning to MAJAC was particularly significant, having first attended the institution about 14 years ago as part of the fourth cohort of the GPU School of Journalism.
She noted that despite having previously obtained qualifications from MAJAC, every return to the institution provided another opportunity to learn something new.
Ms Sanneh thanked the Department of Information Services for its continued efforts to expose communications officers to emerging technologies, new reporting techniques and modern communication trends.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to enhance our skills and learn new ways of making our work easier, more effective and up to standard,” she said.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Mr Ebrima Njie, Deputy Director of the Department of Information Services, who represented the Director of DoIS, commended MAJAC’s management and resource persons for their support and commitment to the successful implementation of the programme. Mr Njie disclosed that preparations for the training began in January, noting that MAJAC had been supportive throughout the planning process and had agreed to deliver the programme at a reasonable cost despite the financial constraints faced by public institutions.
He also praised the resource persons for delivering interactive and practical sessions, saying feedback from participants showed that they had found the training both informative and beneficial.
According to Mr Njie, the Director of the Department of Information Services was particularly pleased with the participants’ attendance, punctuality and active participation throughout the training.
He said the commitment demonstrated by the communications officers reflected their willingness to acquire new skills and improve the quality of their work.
Mr Njie further highlighted the important role communications officers are playing in transforming government communication, noting that there has been a significant and positive shift in the way government institutions disseminate information.
He observed that whereas some government websites in the past were rarely updated, communications officers are now playing a more proactive role in ensuring that government information is regularly published and made accessible to the public.
He described this development as part of a broader move towards open governance and proactive disclosure of information, which he said is important for democracy, transparency and national development.
Mr Njie therefore challenged the participants to immediately translate their newly acquired skills into practical results.
“From tomorrow onwards, we want to see new ways of doing things or improved ways of doing things in your various workplaces,” he urged.
He reaffirmed the Department of Information Services’ commitment to strengthening the professional capacity of government communications officers, emphasising the need to build a communications cadre capable of meeting the demands of a rapidly changing media and digital landscape.
“We want this cadre to be the best,” Mr Njie stressed, encouraging participants to continue striving for excellence.
The four-day training concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants, marking the completion of an intensive learning experience that is expected to strengthen government storytelling and multimedia communication.
With digital platforms increasingly shaping how citizens receive and engage with public information, the training represents another step towards building a more modern, responsive and visually compelling government communication system.
The challenge now, as participants return to their respective institutions, is to turn the lessons learned at MAJAC into stories, images and videos that inform, engage and bring government closer to the people.