Journalism veterans mandated to uphold ethics ahead of 2025 polls
By Nchendzengang Tatah
BUEA, Cameroon (CNA) — A panel of six veteran journalists has been established to unite leaders of various press associations and organizations to promote ethics and deontology in journalism practice in Cameroon before the 2025 elections.
The newly formed Journalists-emeritus Panel (JeP) includes esteemed Cameroonian news figures Victor Epie-Ngome, Martin Nkemngu, Charlie Ndi Chia, Wain Paul Ngam, Tricia Oben, and Gemnda Buinda.
The JeP was the primary outcome of a meeting held on May 8, 2024, in Buea during the second Media Conference organized by Civil Initiatives for Development with Integrity (CiDi). The event was attended by the National Communication Council (NCC) president, Joseph Chebonkeng.
Assisting the JeP is a Technical Committee comprising journalists and journalism scholars, including Scholar Maloke, Bouddih Adams, Franklin Sone Bayen, Wasso Norbert, Dr. Lizzie Nengieh, Dr. Olive Ejang, Dr. Eileen Manka’a Tabuwe, Randy Joe Sa’ah, and Kini Nsom.
A working group will be created to economically empower media practitioners, including leaders of various press associations and organizations. This group will also be responsible for producing a common code of ethics for journalism practice.
In anticipation of the upcoming elections, an election coverage task force of volunteer news media practitioners was also established. This task force aims to ensure comprehensive coverage of the multiple elections in 2025. The task force will also document election promises made by candidates and track their implementation to highlight unfulfilled promises.
To protect members of the task force, its operations will be financed, and high-tech coverage equipment will be provided. Additionally, to offer reliable and processed information for other media players, the task force will run a centralized news pool.
The organizers also announced that they would engage in monitoring and evaluating participants in various training programs to ensure they actively advocate for and follow up on reforms toward an information policy, including the establishment of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to legally oblige public authorities to provide requested information to the press.
