ANTIC warns journalists of cyber threats as Municipal Updates marks 10 Years

Journalists have been urged to strengthen their digital security to protect confidential sources, sensitive information and newsroom operations as cybercrime increasingly threatens the practice of journalism.

The warning came from , Director of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing at the (ANTIC), during a one-day media workshop organised by in Yaoundé on Friday, 9 October 2026.

The workshop, held at the National Episcopal Conference Hall, formed part of activities marking the newspaper’s 10th anniversary. It brought together journalists, particularly those reporting from the conflict-affected North-West and South-West Regions, to examine conflict and post-conflict reporting, rural communication and cybercriminality.

Presenting on cybersecurity, Ngwainbi Afuh explained why journalists had become attractive targets for cybercriminals, citing their access to sensitive information, confidential sources, influential contacts and news organisations’ digital systems.

He said journalists routinely use smartphones, computers, cameras, external drives and email accounts to gather, store and transmit information. These tools, while essential to modern reporting, can expose journalists and their sources when security measures are weak.

“In an environment of information warfare, a cybercriminal will want to access the devices of a particular journalist” to obtain sensitive information, he warned.

According to the ANTIC official, a compromised device can expose the identity of a confidential source, including the source’s telephone number, photographs, interview recordings and other personal details. Such exposure can put the source at risk, particularly when reporting on killings, kidnappings and other sensitive issues in conflict-affected communities.

He also warned that cyberattacks could target an entire newsroom through compromised accounts, potentially giving criminals access to unpublished reports and information about people who supply journalists with news.

Ngwainbi Afuh identified social engineering and phishing among the common methods used to gain access to journalists’ accounts and devices. Criminals may exploit fear, curiosity, trust or urgency through messages that appear to come from official institutions or trusted contacts.

He cited the example of a fraudulent message demanding that journalists verify their press accreditation within a short deadline, threatening suspension if they failed to comply. Such messages may contain malicious links designed to steal login credentials.

Journalists were advised to verify suspicious requests through official channels rather than clicking unfamiliar links, to use strong and unique passwords, and to activate on email and social media accounts.

Ngwainbi Afuh cautioned against reusing the same password across different platforms, installing unlicensed software and connecting unknown USB drives to newsroom computers. He also stressed the need for regular software updates, secure backups and measures to lock or remotely erase lost smartphones.

For journalists working in the North-West and South-West, he said digital security was particularly important because compromised devices could reveal information that had not been published, including the identities of confidential sources.

The presentation placed cybersecurity at the centre of the workshop’s wider discussion on professional safety, ethical reporting and the handling of sensitive information in a prolonged conflict.

National Communication Council President Joseph Chebongkeng Kalabubse speaking to the workshop urged journalists to uphold professional standards while reporting on the crisis in the two English-speaking regions.

He reminded participants that the public depended on the media for reliable information and that journalists had a duty to establish the truth while considering the possible consequences of publication.

“One journalist can set the nation on fire... They should also understand that they are the ears and eyes of those who are not on ground,” Chebongkeng Kalabubse said adding that “they have a responsibility of telling the story, not only telling the facts, but putting the facts in such a way that it does not hurt.”

The NCC president called on journalists to seek the truth, minimise harm, act independently and remain accountable to their audiences. He maintained that responsible reporting required journalists to present facts in a manner that informed the public without needlessly worsening tensions.

Chebongkeng Kalabubse also commended Municipal Updates for organising the workshop, describing the initiative as particularly relevant to journalists working in difficult conditions in the North-West and South-West.

Publisher Charm Victor Bama said the newspaper had organised the training because its anniversary offered an opportunity to assess its work and equip journalists with skills needed to respond to changing professional demands.

Founded shortly before the outbreak of the , Municipal Updates has operated in a reporting environment shaped by insecurity and the need for information on conflict, peace and development.

Charm Victor said the newspaper wanted participants to move beyond the limitations of event-driven conflict reporting and strengthen their ability to report on the underlying issues affecting communities.

He urged journalists to consider the role their work could play in reducing tensions and supporting peaceful solutions.

“The tough journalist is not the one who attacks, but it is the one who reports the truth in a responsible manner that promotes peace and provides sustainable solutions,” Bama said.

Journalism trainer Dr Ndode Stephen expanded the discussion by examining how media coverage of the Anglophone conflict has influenced public understanding of events over the past decade.

He criticised reporting that concentrates heavily on violence, presents events without sufficient context or gives limited attention to the experiences of ordinary people affected by the crisis.

Dr Ndode argued that the pressure to publish first, attract audiences and compete for attention could undermine verification and public trust. He also highlighted misinformation on social media, difficulties in accessing reliable information and divisions within the media community.

Drawing on preliminary audience research, he said respondents valued the media’s role in providing information but wanted more balanced and sensitive reporting, stronger verification and greater attention to dialogue, reconciliation and rebuilding communities.

He called for greater specialisation in journalism training, particularly in conflict reporting, and urged media practitioners to distinguish verified facts from allegations, opinions and propaganda.

The workshop also reinforced the need to protect sources and respect media laws and professional ethics when gathering, processing and publishing information.

The discussions according to Municipal Updates, formed part of a wider review of its decade-long work and preparations for a new phase of digital expansion.

At an anniversary reception at the same venue on Saturday, 10 October, Cham Victor announced plans to transform the newspaper into a more digitally oriented media platform serving audiences across Cameroon.

He said the initiative would seek to connect the country’s 58 divisions through locally focused reporting, allowing people to access information about their divisions, villages and neighbourhoods from their homes or offices.

“Wherever you come from, at the comfort of your home or office, you can have access to information from your area, from your village, from your quarter,” he said.

Cham Victor added that the planned head office would be digitally equipped to support the newspaper’s expansion, describing the project as costly but necessary for its future development.

The anniversary celebration also featured the launch of a special Municipal Updates magazine dedicated to the development efforts of President Paul Biya, with particular attention to the North-West and South-West Regions.

Cham Victor said the publication reflected the newspaper’s position on national unity, peace and development. He argued that sustained development depended on peace and that the absence of development could threaten unity.

Among the dignitaries at the reception were Balungali Confiance Ebone, Minister Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Felix Mbayu, Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Commonwealth Affairs. Other guests expressed support for the newspaper as it prepared to enter its next phase.

The two-day anniversary activities combined professional training with a review of the newspaper’s editorial direction. The cybersecurity discussions highlighted a growing responsibility for journalists: protecting the digital tools and confidential information on which accurate reporting, public trust and the safety of sources depend.

By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web

Special Report

Tel: +237 694 71 85 77