The Constitution


ADDRESS

Young Journalists Association of The Gambia
C/O Gambia Press Union (GPU)
Off Atlantic Boulevard, Fajara
PO Box 1440, Banjul
The Gambia 
Telephone: (00220) 


THE CONSTITUTION OF THE YOUNG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION OF THE GAMBIA

ARTICLE 1

CHAPTER 1

PREAMBLE

WE the members of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia;
AWARE of the duties and responsibilities towards the growth and development of the Association;
COMMITTED to build an Association capable of meeting the challenges of the present and future;
CONVINCED that the growth and development of the Association entails incorporation of young reporters of all shades of opinion in order to accomplish the purpose of a free and vibrant press;
DETERMINED to promote all the aims and objectives of the Association;
DO HEREBY, in and through this professional body, solemnly enact, adapt and give to our prosperity, and us,
This constitution of the Young Journalists Association of The Gambia, on this 16th day of September, 2007.


CHAPTER 2

NAME:
Name of the Association shall be “YOUNG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION OF THE GAMBIA” (YJAG)


CHAPTER 3

MOTTO: Capacity Building, Duty to Inform


ARTICLE 2

AIMS/OBJECTIVES
i)                To foster unity and mutual understanding among the young media practitioners in the Gambia.
ii)            To promote the wellbeing of young journalists in the country.
iii)        To address common issues of concern to young journalist
iv)         To promote freedom of expression in The Gambia
v)             To build the capacities of young journalists.
vi)         To foster cordial media-government relationship for mutual benefit.
vii)     To foster collaboration between young journalists in The Gambia and our counterparts outside the country.
viii) To hold various media houses in the country accountable of their responsibilities towards young journalists especially freelancers taking into consideration the crucial role they play.


ARTICLE 3

MEMBERSHIP

CHAPTER 1

i)                FULL MEMBERSHIP- This type of membership is meant for practicing journalists between the ages of 18 and 35.

CHAPTER 2

ii)            ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP-This category of membership comprises of Associations and individuals who cherish the objectives of the Association.

CHAPTER 3

iii)        HONORARY MEMBERSHIP-The kind of membership shall be granted to journalists and non-journalists who may wish to offer any kind of support to Association.
iv)          
NB: All members must adhere to rules and regulations of the Association; defend the constitution at all times.

ARTICLE 4

MEETINGS

a)  - Executive shall meet at least once every month prior to general meetings.
- The president in consultation with the secretary and PRO shall sermon a meeting at any given time whenever the need arises.
b) - There shall be an Annual General Meeting each year to be called AGM
-The place and time of the AGM shall be decided by the president of YJAG in consultation with the executive, giving at least 30 days notice.
-All meetings shall be presided over by the president of YJAG.

c)  EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
An extraordinary meeting shall be sermon by the president on the decision of the executive at the written and signs request of not less than one third of the voting members giving at least 15 days notice and specify the nature of the business to be transacted.

d)QUORUM
The quorum at the AGM shall be forty per cent of the general membership.


ARTICLE 5

EXECUTIVE

I)               The executive members shall be responsible for the day-day administration and direction of the of the Association’s activities.
II)           All executive members shall be registered as full members.
III)      Synchronize the activities of the Association.
IV)     With regards to the president, he or she must be a creative, discipline, have self-esteem and be ready to work with a team.
V)          The executive should not be concentrated in one media house, a maximum of three.
VI)     Meaning no branches. And shall comprise of the following portfolios:
a)    President
b)  1st Vice President
c)   2nd  Vice President
d)  Secretary General
e)   Assistant Secretary General
f)    Treasurer
g)  Auditor
h)  Public Relations Officer (PRO)
i)    2 Co-opted members, (1 of whom must be a female)


FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE

THE PRESIDENT

i)                Shall chair all executive and general meetings and also the congress, which shall be held in every two years.
ii)            He/she shall supervise the activities of the Association.
iii)        He/she shall be the liaison officer between the Association and external partners and shall report back to the executive body.
iv)         He/she shall be a signatory to the account of the Association.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

i)                He/she shall act in the absence of the president.
ii)            Assist the president in the execution of his or her duties.
iii)        Shall execute responsibilities delegated to him/her by the president.
iv)         Shall be a signatory to the Association’s account in the absence of the president.


SECRETARY GENERAL

i)                He/she shall take the minutes of all executive, general body and congress meetings.
ii)            Shall keep records of the Association’s activities.
iii)        He/she shall prepare and read out the activity report of the Association quarterly, annually, biannually and during congress.
iv)         Shall take attendance at all meetings.
v)             He/she shall be responsible for writing letters to inform all congress parties for meetings and other letters to facilitate the activities of the Association.
vi)         Shall be responsible for all correspondence in collaboration with the president.
vii)     Shall liaise with the president on matters of the agenda for each meeting.
viii) Shall be responsible for preparing membership ID cards.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY GENERAL

i)                He or she shall act in the place of the secretary general when absent.
ii)            Shall help the secretary general in the execution of his/her duties.
iii)        He or she carry out any other secretarial duties delegated to him by the secretary general.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER (PRO)

He or she shall serve as the official spokesperson of the Association.
i)                Shall be responsible for both internal and external communication on directives from the president.
ii)            Shall recognise crucial matters and keep the members inform about the matters/events of the Association either verbally or through media/press.
iii)        He or she shall inform members about meetings date, place, time and any other social events of the Association.

TREASURER

i)                He or she collects dues and contributions from both members and non-members.
ii)            Shall keep the petty cash of the Association
iii)        Shall be a signatory to the Association’s account.

AUDITOR

i)                He or she shall audit all the finances of the Association,
ii)            Shall be responsible for writing audit report.
iii)        He or she shall brief the executive from time to time on the financial status of the Association.

TWO ELECTED MEMBERS

i)                They shall act in the position of any executive member unavailable.
ii)            Shall carry out any responsibility delegated to them by any member of the executive.

TERM OF OFFICE

i)                Executive members shall serve a three-year term. Renewable for not more than two consecutive terms.




ARTICLE 6

INCOME / FINANCE

i)                Monies belonging to the Association shall be kept in a current account and the Treasurer, Secretary General and President shall be signatories to the account.
ii)            Individuals wishing to register as full members shall purchase an ID card at D50 only.
iii)        Associations in the country shall pay an enrolment fee of D100 only and those from abroad $100 or equivalent.
iv)         Individuals shall make an annual contribution of D120 to be paid at least before January ending.
v)             The resources of the Association shall compose of the contribution by members.
vi)         Donations from well-wishers without any ulterior motive.
vii)     Grants from CSO and NGOs in and outside the country.
viii) Fundraising ventures to be initiated example, Kora shows.
ix)         Any withdrawal exceeding D1000 must be approved by at least 1/3 of the Executive.
x)             Participants at any workshop organised by YJAG shall give back 10 per cent of their allowance to the Association.
xi)         Any member found misusing the funds of the Association shall face the due process of the law without any compromise.



ARTICLE 7

CHAPTER 1

AMENDMENT

i)                A section of this constitution can only be amended by forty per cent of the general membership.


CHAPTER 2

AFFILIATIONS

j)    The Association shall seek and approved affiliation with sister Associations in and outside the country.
k) Shall be affiliated to The Gambia Press Union (GPU)


ARTICLE 9

VOTING

i)                All registered members shall have one vote in all elections.
ii)            Full members who owe a single Dalasi to the Association shall not vote unless all dues are settled.
iii)        Associate member(s) shall have only one vote for their Association.
iv)         Honorary members shall have no voting rights but can also observe election process, to ensure it’s free and fairness.



ARTICLE 10

BY LAWS

i)                Presidency being the highest position in the Association, the holder must have an experience in administration, sharp and vocal.
ii)            The Association shall not at any given time be Associated or involved into the political affairs of the country.
iii)        The President and PRO must both have at least two years experience in active journalism.
iv)         The Association shall not enter into any transaction with any individual or institution, which may undermine its mission and vision.
v)             Not in any circumstance should an individual executive member act on behalf of the Association without the consent of the majority of the executive.
vi)         Removal: An executive can be removed from office when found misusing the Association’s funds and abuse of office.
vii)     Absenteeism for three (3) consecutive meetings without any given reason would be paid for D100.



ARTICLE 11

CONGRESS

i)                Congress shall be the general Assembly of the entire membership and it shall be held in every two years to review the activities, elect executive and where necessary adopt a plan of action.
ii)            The venue and time shall be determined by the executive giving at least 30 days notice to the general membership.
iii)        The congress shall be the highest authority in the Association and can remove from office any one deem unproductive or inefficient.
iv)         Decisions taken by the congress can only be amended by the congress


ARTICLE 12

DISSOLUTION

In the event that the Association is to be dissolved, the resources shall be shared among all registered members who didn’t owe a dalasi to the Association. Otherwise be given to the GPU the umbrella body of all media practitioners in the country. This of course must be approved by a two third of the general membership.

Sign ……………..

THE END


·      Amended 21 Sept., 2013 at GPU Secretariat, Fajara

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