Awards, hard lessons from the field and new ideas for survival mark the close of Bamenda’s first regional media forum.
The North West Media Forum closed in Bamenda with a strong focus on ethics, innovation and sustainability, as journalists reflected on how to practise responsible journalism in a region shaped by crisis.
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The two day forum, organised by the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ, held from 15 to 16 January 2026 in Bamenda, examined key media challenges, with emphasis on combating hate speech and xenophobia, improving professionalism and strengthening the role of the media in peace building.
Panel discussions throughout the forum addressed hate speech, xenophobia and innovation as drivers of ethical and impactful journalism. Journalists shared experiences from the field and explored how reporting can reduce tension rather than inflame it, especially in an election period.
The closing day was marked by an awards ceremony that recognised journalists for excellence in reporting. The Afuma Group Prize for Economic Reporting honoured journalists who produced strong stories on business and development.
Other awards presented included the Monica Chunji Prize for Education reporting, the Radar Prize for Non Communicable Diseases reporting, the Regina Mundi Prize for Maternal Health reporting, and the Solutions Journalism Award, all aimed at encouraging quality, people centred journalism.
The closing ceremony was attended by the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique, who called on journalists to adopt a more solution oriented approach in reporting the ongoing crisis. He said journalism should not only expose problems but also highlight efforts and ideas that can help communities move forward.
He added that while government is using all available means to restore lasting peace, support from grassroots communities and responsible reporting remain indispensable.
The forum concluded with a call for journalists, especially young reporters, to uphold ethics, truth and public interest in their work, and for media owners to invest in better welfare as a path to stronger and more credible journalism.
The closing message was clear: journalism in the North West must be ethical, innovative and economically viable if it is to serve society in difficult times.
By Ethel Ngala and Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online
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