10/10/2025
Journalism, Power, and the Politics of Taking Sides.
By Alagi Yorro Jallow
Originally published February 3, 2021: Reproduced and revised October 2025
Fatoumatta: In February 2021, I published a reflection titled "Journalism, Power, and the Politics of Taking Sides"—a civic meditation on the ethical responsibilities of the Fourth Estate in fragile democracies. That article challenged journalists to rise above tribal loyalties, political patronage, and performative neutrality and instead embrace the principled rigor that journalism demands.
Today, its relevance has intensified.
Across The Gambia, media houses and journalists are facing growing public backlash not for censorship, but for perceived complicity. The charge is clear: taking sides, abandoning objectivity, and inflaming tribal and political biases under the guise of reportage. Trained and untrained media workers alike are accused of mixing activism with journalism, and the public is no longer silent. They are reacting with skepticism, critique, and civic alarm.
This revised version of the original commentary is not a nostalgic reproduction. It is a timely intervention. It interrogates the ideological confusion, editorial opportunism, and ethical lapses that continue to undermine public trust in Gambian media. It calls for a renaissance of principled journalism anchored in truth, fairness, and fearless accountability.
Let this be a renewed call to conscience for journalists, media owners, civic educators, and political actors. The Fourth Estate must not become a fifth column. It must return to its roots: to inform, to interrogate, and to inspire.
"Journalism, Power, and Taking Sides in Politics
By Alagi Yorro Jallow
Fatoumatta: As an emeritus journalist, I firmly uphold the foundational principles of the fourth estate, which strive for honest reporting, public trust, fairness, truth, objectivity, and ethical journalism. The essence of journalistic objectivity is not just a principle, but a cornerstone of our profession. It empowers the audience to form their own opinions and make informed decisions based solely on the facts presented. It is about providing the information and allowing the audience to interpret it independently, free from the writer's biases.
At its finest, journalism is not just a profession but a vital civic compass, guiding the public through the complexities of society. It enables them to make informed choices, demand accountability from those in authority, and empower them to shape the future of their nation.
Regrettably, today, the principle of objectivity faces significant challenges. In The Gambia and beyond, journalists are increasingly accused of taking sides, blurring the line between activism and reporting, and forsaking professional detachment for partisan loyalty. This growing perception has rightfully sparked public concern and calls for an immediate and thorough reevaluation of journalistic integrity.
Fatoumatta: Journalistic objectivity transcends mere neutrality regarding injustice or indifference to truth. It is fundamentally about presenting facts with integrity, reducing bias, and empowering audiences to draw their own conclusions. As ethical journalists, we must be unwavering in our commitment to truth—no matter how uncomfortable it may be. This empowerment of the audience is essential to journalistic objectivity, enabling individuals to form their own opinions and make informed decisions.
An ethical journalist embodies integrity, tirelessly pursues the truth, and strives to report with minimal bias. They must be honest, fair, and courageous in gathering, writing, and interpreting information. Bias can significantly shape how journalists, as individuals and a collective community, respond to complex societal issues, often influenced by the tribal, political, and religious identities at play. While human bias is an unavoidable aspect of producing quality journalism, it is equally crucial for audiences and news sharers to recognize and mitigate that bias in journalists' work.
The Gambia's media landscape is currently in a crisis, not due to censorship, but rather a profound loss of credibility. The Fourth Estate, once hailed as the watchdog of democracy, now finds itself perilously caught between activism and partisanship, as well as civic duty and tribal loyalty. The public has evolved from passive consumers of news to vigilant observers, actively rejecting what they perceive as compromised journalism. This is not a trivial squabble over bias; it is a significant structural failure of training, ethics, and editorial clarity. The lines between journalism, advocacy, and political propaganda have blurred dangerously, resulting in a breakdown of truth in this ambiguity. Objectivity is not about lacking an opinion; it is about the discipline to verify facts, the courage to probe deeper, and the humility to allow the truth to stand apart from tribal biases.
Fatoumatta: Ethical journalism demands relentless fairness, unwavering balance, and steadfast integrity—not shallow performative neutrality. I recall a colleague and classmate of mine, a Nieman Fellow from the class of 2006 at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. She was a respected columnist and editor, and she boldly stated, "We all have biases," while passionately defending her loyalty to Manchester United over any other team in the English Premier League. This candid acknowledgement serves as a reminder that recognizing our biases is the first step toward elevating the standard of journalism.
As cliché as it may sound, the statement reinforced my deep-seated belief that true objectivity is an unattainable ideal for any human being, a conviction I have held since childhood. As a trained journalist, I recognize that storytelling should strive for fairness and balance, allowing each perspective a fair platform. However, certain narratives challenge this principle. When grappling with complex issues such as politics, climate change, the Cold War, and religion, absolute professionalism is paramount, yet often elusive.
American journalist and author, Hunter S. Thompson, powerfully articulated this struggle in an interview with The Atlantic: "Objective journalism is one of the main reasons American politics has been allowed to be so corrupt for so long. You cannot be objective about Nixon. How can you be objective about Donald Trump?" He went on to challenge the very essence of journalistic objectivity: "If you consider the great journalists in history, you do not see too many objective journalists on that list. H.L. Mencken was not objective. Mike Royko, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was not objective. I. F. Stone was not objective. Mark Twain was not objective. I do not quite understand this worship of objectivity in journalism. Now, just flat-out lying is different from being subjective." These words resonate profoundly. Humans are inherently self-interested, often prioritizing our own needs, those of our families, our communities, our nations, and our religions—generally in that order. There is no fundamental flaw in media practitioners and journalists aligning with and supporting the politicians they believe in.
Politics, at its core, can be defined by Harold Lasswell as the allocation of resources who gets what, when, and how. Naturally, any politician in power will champion their own interests, which is why political landscapes worldwide typically divide into two dominant factions: conservatives and liberals, the so-called right and left.
Contrary to common belief, The Gambia's political landscape urgently needs a foundation of clear ideology and principled values. Currently, our political identity is primarily shaped by superficial factors such as cliques, 'Badinyaa Fassa', factions, tribalism, classism, elitism, vous, and the biases perpetuated by media houses and their proprietors. The silent majority of Gambians tends to lean conservative, and understanding this requires a deeper examination of our history.
Engaging with the works of Walter Rodney or grasping the impact of colonialism in Africa reveals why many Africans gravitate toward conservative political choices. This inclination explains why they staunchly support politicians who align with their values while opposing those who are disruptive, ethnically divisive, or embroiled in corruption, often symbolized by the metaphor of the "brown envelope." This phenomenon is not exclusive to The Gambia; it is echoed in more developed countries like the United States, where media bias runs rampant.
Fatoumatta: Consider the Irish-American vote—one of the most coveted in American politics. Politicians with even a trace of Irish heritage make pilgrimages to Ireland to connect with its wealthy Irish and Catholic voting bloc, a trend evidenced by figures from John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. Bill Clinton capitalized on this dynamic as well. Politicians are astute in recognizing and navigating tribal affiliations, knowing that their outreach must resonate with various groups. Wealthy white individuals, especially former landowners and business elites, generally prefer to uphold the status quo, which reinforces their conservative outlook. So, how do these ideological divides maintain their grip on their supporters? The answer lies in the ideological underpinnings of media ownership, control, and readership. Take, for example, the liberal media outlets like the New York Times and CNN, which Donald Trump often vilifies for their biases. These platforms consistently rally behind Democratic candidates, and even when faced with subpar options, a loyal base remains willing to defend them. This highlights how deeply entrenched ideologies influence political loyalty and the media's role in shaping public perception.
Fatoumatta: The Gambia stands at a critical crossroads. Historically, all independent media houses, before the emergence of the Daily Observer, were biased against Yahya Jammeh and aligned with the opposition. Journalists lost their impartiality and objectivity, adopting activist journalism and guerrilla tactics to resist dictatorial regimes. Today, in a new democratic dispensation, Many journalists have adopted a façade of "neutrality," but often they exhibit blatant anti-government bias, which inevitably comes back to haunt them. This can manifest in various forms, including bribery from political operatives, chilling visits under the cover of darkness, or even threats at gunpoint to silence their most talented reporters, only for one of those dynamic individuals to be arrested a year later. Rather than maintaining this façade, citizens need to access media sources that provide an honest depiction of the political landscape.
The challenge of trusting supposedly independent media in The Gambia is significant, as many reporters may support the opposition today yet flip their allegiance tomorrow. There are independent media houses that have received a GMD 15 million COVID-19 relief grant, alongside a select digital media outlet that was awarded GMD 40 million by the government for propagandistic purposes, showcasing the President's so-called achievements. This makes it challenging to have faith in the integrity of such outlets.
However, the grave risks associated with operating a media house in this environment of divisive and toxic politics are significant. The rule of law in The Gambia is precarious, leaving journalists exposed to intimidation, censorship, and even lethal threats. Power can shift dramatically, rendering yesterday's influential figures into beggars in a new regime. Journalists find themselves besieged from all sides.
Moreover, anyone with political ambition must invest strategically in media. Moreover, they must steer this media to align with their objectives while ensuring responsible practices that avoid inciting hatred, as we witnessed in Rwanda and Germany in 1948.
Operating a media house in The Gambia is fraught with peril. The fragile rule of law subjects journalists to intimidation and violence. As power dynamics shift, the stakes remain high; today's kingmaker could easily become tomorrow's exile. It is imperative for the future of journalism and democracy in The Gambia that true independence and integrity in the media are safeguarded.
We stand at a crucial juncture where a renaissance of principled journalism is imperative. To achieve this, we must equip journalists with a deep understanding of civic philosophy, moving beyond mere reporting skills. - Foster meaningful mentorship for media hosts, encouraging them to curate panels that offer genuine intellectual depth instead of relying on performative spectacle. - Uphold stringent ethical standards through the establishment of independent media councils. - Cultivate a robust civic media literacy among audiences, empowering them to recognize bias and demand accountability from the media.
Fatoumatta: Let us reclaim the dignity of the Fourth Estate! We must create a media culture that educates rather than incites, that challenges rather than flatters, and that prioritizes the public good over the interests of the powerful. Together, we can transform journalism into a force for truth and democracy."
