By Elvis Tah
Journalists in Buea have been called to order in their misuse of press freedom considering the deteriorating morality in the journalism profession, stemming from non-respect for ethics, sensationalism and bribe taking.
Ndi Chia: 'Younger journalists should copy from the wisdom of the old'
The journalists were challenged on May 3, during a twin ceremony to celebrate World Press Freedom Day and the second anniversary of Press Club, a popular programme on CRTV Buea and Mt. Cameroon FM, produced by a cream of Buea-based journalists.
Speaking at the occasion, retired journalist and pioneer Southwest Communication Delegate, Kome Epule, implored journalists to use the press freedom responsibly and to shun sensational journalism.
"You can only succeed in this noble profession by adhering to its basic tenets. Journalists should shun bias reporting, defamation and misinformation," Epule said. While exhorting reporters to expose the problems affecting society and show proof of good judgement, he, however regretted that due to lack of money journalists undermine the canons of the profession.
On his part, the Editor-in Chief of The Post and member of the National Communication Council, NCC, Charly Ndi Chia, admitted that the press is corrupt. According to him, unlike the press that has the medium to criticise the police for corruption, the police is armless and cannot fight back. He thus entreated the new generation of journalists to learn from the wisdom of the old ones.
While identifying some of the problems bedevilling the journalism profession, Southwest Communication Delegate, Wilfred Nkong Makoge, pointed out that journalists have no respect for ethics. He lauded the Press Club team for merging pressmen of both the public and private press with the aim of touching sensitive issues in the society.
Nkong Makoge advised the team not to rest on their laurels, but to keep the flame of press club burning.Other speakers during the occasion were the Vice Chancellor of the University of Buea, Professor Vincent Titanji, the Consul General of Nigeria, Dr. Kenneth Nsor, ace journalist Kevin Njomo, and Barrister Stephen Njila, who promised to offer pro bono service to any journalist who suffers any human right abuse.
The Press Club
According to the moderator/presenter of The Press Club, Samuel Moto Bokuba, the programme,thrust itself unto the schedule of CRTV-Buea on April 24, 2006, at the behest of the new CRTV Buea Station Manager, Michel Moindjel Ngol, with the desire to provide wider leverage to media professionals.
It has a pioneer panel comprising nine journalists of both private and public press, with an executive headed by Nkeze Mbonwoh, of Cameroon Tribune newspaper. Through the programme, journalists from diverse shades converge to make a professionally rigorous assessment and criticism of news stories reported during the week.
The peak of the programme's fame was in September 16, 2006, barely six months after its inception, when it was short-listed as a finalist of the BBC 2007 Excellence Radio awards, for being one of the most interactive programmes in Africa.
Other members of the team include Walter Wilson Nana, of The Post, Harry MacYemti, Guardian Post, Chris Ambe, The Recorder, Bouddih Adams, The Sun, Fidelis Pegue Manga, Dr. Ernest Molua, The Entrepreneur newspaper and Anne Munjong of CRTV Buea.
Hi Mr Ndi Chia,i believe you are one of our most respected journalist but i was surprise to see you organising and event and what stands infront of them are bottles of beers.Please photos should be edited before putting the for the public to see.it paints a bad image of our country.
Posted by: DECKY | Monday, 05 May 2008 at 02:56 PM
Mr DECKY,
it does not paint a bad image of our country, it is just the true image of our country. who will show up at such event if there is no free MIMBO or free CHOP?
try it.
Posted by: andre fokam | Tuesday, 06 May 2008 at 08:00 PM