Kebba Jeffang, a journalist for Foroyaa newspaper, described being hit, scratched and insulted at a press conference on Sunday held by ministers from three parties who joined together to form Barrow's new coalition government.
Barrow has made press freedom a pillar of his reforms since taking power earlier this year from Yahya Jammeh, whose authoritarian 22-year rule was marked by arrests and intimidation of reporters.
"We condemn the attack on Kebba Jeffang and call on the leaders of the three political parties to take appropriate action to address this matter," said Gambia Press Union Secretary General Saikou Jammeh.
Madi Jobarteh, who writes for the popular Gambian blog platform Fatu Network, said the violence was "utterly unacceptable and totally unbecoming of the new Gambia we wish to build."
More From This Section
Eyewitnesses said Jeffang was attacked for asking pointed questions to the ministers about whether their parties would continue to maintain their coalition in The Gambia's upcoming legislative elections.
"The journalist's only 'offence' is to ask questions to Ousainou Darboe and Mai Ahmad Fatty, the respective leaders of United Democratic Party (UDP) and Gambia Moral Congress (GMC)," said Amadou Bojang, who saw the attack take place.
Members of UDP, GMC as well as the National Reconciliation Party -- all member parties of the coalition that brought Barrow to power -- are alleged to have taken part in the attack.
Barrow had been a member of the UDP until he resigned to stand as the coalition candidate in a December election that unseated President Jammeh from power.