“100,000frs for 58 journalists, no journalism in Cameroon”
By Shanta Sih
Journalists in Cameroon joined their colleagues around the world to celebrate World Press Freedom Day this May 03, 2023. On this occasion, these media men and women have expressed some of their worries as far as the job is concerned in Cameroon.
A journalist who was part of the Buea flood incident coverage says he was present when the territorial administration boss visited the flood victims:
“We were actually disrespected and given about 100,000 francs to be shared amongst close to 60 journalists from different media houses. We journalists, have been neglected and disrespected several times.”
The Cameroon Association of English speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) advised journalists in Cameroon to seek information, process it and make it available to the public in a timely and unbiased manner. This was during a meeting held in Yaounde on May 02, 2023 in prelude to the clebration of the world press freedom day. Jean Vincent Tchinebom a journalist with 57 years of experience in the profession during the Camasej meeting called on all journalists to be determined to restorre the ethics of the profession in spite of the difficulties encountered in the country.
Some journalists complained that Cameroon talks of freedom of speech whereas the reality on the gorund shows there is no freedom
“The case of Martinez is a clear and scary way of saying there is freedom of speech to all journalists who do not love their lives. I love my life and I think journalism in Cameroon still needs much work. We are media men yes, but we are scared to speak for fear of the unknown,” a journalist explained.
“We have thousands of newly opened media houses in Cameroon yes and I like the new developments but to talk of how much journalist are being paid is a total shame. 40,000 francs a month usually turns into a fight often between bosses and their employees. Sometimes journalists are invited to programs and are given 10,000frs as transportation fare which is diminishing,” another journalist adds.
This edition of the world press freedom day is being celebrated at a time when the government of Cameroon is yet to make a clear verdict known on the gruesome murder of investigative journalist Martinez Zogo.
