Online Journalism Regulation as Major Problem

The online media organs in Cameroon have no law to regulate their functioning. Many people who know how to use the internet have suddenly started practising on-line journalism. Individuals are evolving with a field where no rules exist to control what they are doing. This is why, Adamu Musa, chief of the Technological and Innovation Committee at the National Communication Forum, has stressed the importance of the 9th workshop which is considered the most important in the Forum because when the last Forum took place in Cameroon, internet was not as common as now.

"We want to set-up a framework in which On-Line journalism can operate in Cameroon," Adamu Musa noted. While adding that many people are using the web without knowing the consequences of the type of information they put on it, Adamu Musa said they are working towards a conclusion that whoever uses the web to pass across information does so within a regulated framework. According to the "rapporteur" of the workshop, Dr Wame Babe, studies have been made to ensure that the framework in which on-line journalism operates in Cameroon reflects what obtains in developed countries.

Participants at the workshop have clearly defined web-journalism. Dr Wame Babe said there is need to clean on-line journalism in Cameroon which did not even exist during the last National Communication Forum in Cameroon some 18 years back. Given that many people are using the web today particularly to get information, experts say at the end of the workshop conclusion will render the sector more vibrants, useful, more patriotic, more development- oriented and less personal.