Removing Media Bad Grains from the Good!

Media practitioners in Cameroon have been enjoined to denounce the odious practices in their profession which is to educate, inform and sensitise the population.

The call was made yesterday September 13, by the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary as he opened a two-day national seminar on the theme, "Issues and Challenges of Regulation in the Communication Sector in Cameroon." The workshop which grouped media practitioners from all the nooks and crannies in the country is organised by the National Communication Council (NCC).

Speaking on behalf of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, the Minister of Communication said "it is time to examine the strict laws that regulate the communication sector in Cameroon especially as journalists constitute a cardinal point in the development of any society". Issa Tchiroma said journalists must be responsible in carrying out their duties because the information they send out can construct or destroy a country, unite or dis-unite people. Given President Paul Biya's determination to consolidate democracy in Cameroon, the Minister of Communication noted "there cannot be any veritable democracy without a free press". As such, media men in Cameroon should not abuse the freedom in their profession through unorthodox actions as it is the case now.

The President of the National Communication Council (NCC), Bishop Joseph Befe Ateba took close to an hour to denounce some of the unorthodox practices in the media landscape. He lamented over the fact that journalism today has become a profession to invade the private life of people. Bishop Ateba asked journalists if press liberty means to say whatever someone has to say. Noting that journalism is not a career of love or an artistic field, the President of the NCC said it is time for journalists to put into practice what they have learned in school which has gotten nothing to do with passion. Because of administrative tolerance, Bishop Ateba said journalists do what they want to do.

Given that some people entered the profession of journalism because of political, tribal reasons or some mafia network by error, Bishop Ateba stressed that such people still have time to conform to the rules and regulation of the profession or quit immediately. "It is time for journalists to give themselves some respect and regulate their sector which will involve removing bad grains from the good grains", he said.

While noting that for two days media practitioners will look into the role of NCC which is that of regulating and not repressing press freedom in Cameroon, they will also examine ethics of the profession.