A World Press Freedom Day WPFD panel in Bamenda has raised
worries over the media’s ability to keep power in check.
The panelists made up
of Journalists, Teacher and lawyer were speaking in Bamenda Yesterday during
activities to observe World Press Freedom Day. Moderated by a seasoned
Communicator, Radio host, Rights activists and Author Fulai Colbert Gwain, the
Panelist Peterkings Manyong Publisher Independent Observer, Wanchia Cynthia
Journalism Instructor, John Menkefor Teacher and A lawyer for over an hour
reflected on the day’s theme “Keeping power in Check; Media Justice and the
Rule of Law.” One the possibility of Media Checking power, the regretted that
this is almost impossible since a majority of Journalists have been pocketed by
some people the panel described as “big people.”
According to the panel, the Media, Justice and the rule of
law are the three fundamental institutions to keep power in check. While
encouraging Journalists to master media laws in the country, the panelists in
different interventions sustained that the rule of law requires that everyone
respect the laws of the state.
To function in an environment void of frequent court issues,
the panel recommended that journalism association like CAMASEJ should liaise
with other professional associations like lawyers, magistrates etc.
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| Roseline Akah Obah CAMASEJ President |
Speaking earlier on the theme on behalf of Cameroon
Association of English Speaking Journalists CAMASEJ NW Chapter the organiser of
the panel, Roseline Obah said “The theme chosen this year is an open invitation
to think of the relation between the media, justice and the rule of law. World
Press Freedom day is also an opportunity to highlight the crucial role played
by this profession in defending and preserving the democratic rule of law.”
Appling the theme to the region and the challenges faced the CAMASEJ leader
added “at the level of the NW all has not been a bed of roses. We have
encountered the following challenges in the course of executing our duties. The
suspension of some media houses and talk shows, wanton threats, arrest and the
detention of journalists who are striving to serve as watchdogs of society,
self and administrative censorship discrimination of media houses reading
access to information in some events, the invasion of the media landscape by
quarks and charlatans who practice cavalier journalism thereby bringing the
profession to disrepute, deplorable working conditions with little or no
salaries there by pushing some journalists to practice what is commonly known
today as gombo journalism. The near absence of media subventions to recognized
media houses and on and on”
The Bamenda event also provided and opportunity for the
English Speaking media association to award some of their members for
outstanding work done during the last one year.
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