Journalists’ professionalism in Cameroon attracts more attacks, Nengieh Lizzie asserts in PhD thesis
By Nchendzengang Tatah
Dr Nengieh Lizzie in a recent research disclosed her findings to show a relationship between professionalism and attacks on journalist.
The thesis on the topic; “Journalist Appraisal of Press Freedom in Cameroon”, defended July 12, 2024 at the University of Buea asserts an average view of press freedom by journalist of 40.7% of the recommended 80%.
The study she said was inspired by numerous reports of attacks and intimidation on journalists. From existing research, journalist admitted difficulty to access information especially from public officials.
They said censorship, access to information, control on the media, and measures put in place by the journalist themselves to mitigate attacks hinder press freedom in Cameroon. Her findings showed these attacks to be from both state and non-state actors in different proportions.
The work pointed that attacks on journalists threatens every democracy and infringe on the people’s right to know and the government prowess to make decisions of reasonable impact.
It is on this backdrop she recommends workshop for those who carry out or inspire these attacks to understand that the press is there to serve democracy. Also that, programmes and documentary should be produced and disseminated in public and private media to enlightened the populace and non state groups on the role of the journalists in a democracy.
A former head of journalism department, UB, Kingsley Lyonga Ngange, Ph.D who recently concluded a Fulbright stay in the US said the research together with other works will significantly contribute to addressing and bettering the situation.
“Our job is to propose recommendation to policy makers, journalism trainers and other stakeholders to see how we can move on to the threshold 80% which is the recommended percentage of acceptability of Press Freedom worldwide. Our cup is half full and not half empty,” Kingsley Ngange noted.
Dr Nengieh Lizzie is current and first female head of JMC since 2022. She had her first PhD in Educational Foundations at the University of Buea.
