Diversify Content, Revenue Base

Peter Sakwe Masumbe, (PhD), 'Administrateur Civil Principal,' Senior Lecturer in Public Policy and International Relations, University of Buea, revisits the 40 years of existence of Cameroon Tribune newspaper.

As Cameroon Tribune marks 40 years of existence, its content should be made to attract even the apathetic audience, especially as it is presented in French and English. So far, a considerable portion of its content has not been enticing. The paper should become a flagship educational canvasser in terms of content and volume in Cameroon and the CEMAC sub-region.

Its ability to circulate and be read with great admirability in nearly all the nooks and crannies of the national territory, the sub-region and beyond, should encourage its publishers to ensure and guarantee its profound acceptability as a dependable national daily.

Currently, either by commission or omission, Cameroon Tribune regrettably has no motto. For a national daily cut within the ambits of two major international cultures - French and English, which give Cameroon its very essence and with several supporting local ones, sound reflections of unification and national integration should be conspicuously projected on its top front page. Here are some suggested mottos: 'CT At the Service of Nation-Building,' 'CT At the Service of National Consciousness,' 'CT For Truth, Nurtured by National Consciousness' or 'CT Nurtured by Truth, Sustained by National Consciousness.'

Let CT widen the horizon of its content beyond stories that praise government's actions. Constructive criticisms are a strong panacea and purveyor for national development, especially with Cameroon's democratisation process seeking to reach higher dimensions. It should provide a feature column for national and international commentaries in various domains such as economics, literature, politics, geography, environment, agriculture, science and technology, and other specialised subjects.

In this way, the public could rely on the paper as a powerful research document rather than seeing it as a mere government mouthpiece, not concerned with; and worthy of any serious academic, social, economic or cultural education. Lastly, CT should diversify its products with the view of reducing its financial dependence on the State and increasing employment opportunities. Such diversification would also attract enduring and seasoned manpower to its payroll. Improving its content with more staff could lead to the production of a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly magazine, which could provide highly attractive, educational and informative reading.

Simply put, let CT go beyond its confined frontiers of providing only a single national daily with purely government subsidies. Journalism/Mass Communication are too interesting and diverse to be confined.