The United States Embassy in Banjul on Monday hosted a high-level media forum titled "American Excellence in Journalism: Washington Foreign Press Centre Reporting Tours Empowering Gambian Journalists.” The event showcased the impact of the US Department of State’s Foreign Press Center (FPC) Reporting Tour program, which has given Gambian journalists direct exposure to US democratic institutions, press freedom, and professional reporting standards. Three Gambian journalists who benefited from the program shared their experiences: Alieu Ceesay of QTV, Omar Bah of The Standard Newspaper, and Kaddijatou Jawo of Malagen. Juldeh Njie, Programme Officer of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), also expressed appreciation to the US Embassy and FPC for investing in Gambian journalists’ professional development. “Strong democracies rely on informed citizens, and informed citizens rely on a media sector that is professional, ethical, independent, and committed to the truth,” she said.