Cameron Union Of Journalists, CUJ, Executive Council
Special Declaration On The Situation Of The Media And Journalists In Cameroon
Meeting in an ordinary session on Saturday, July 26, 2008 in Buea, the Executive Council of the Cameroon Union of Journalists, CUJ, having examined and analysed the situation of the media in Cameroon declares as follows:
- On the subject of the handling of information relating to the Bakassi Affair (latest armed attacks) and the new reports on the presumed interrogation of certain members of government, (in the matter of judicial enquiry into the aborted acquisition of a presidential plane which engendered lengthy bitter exchanges (editorials, commentaries, debates) unworthy of fellow journalists and colleagues of the different media organisations.
The Executive Council deplores violations by these individuals of two important provisions of the code of ethics of the Cameroon Union of Journalist freely adopted by the profession 12 years ago. This violation concerns two important duties of the eight contained in the said code:
Art. 2: "Help to make Cameroonians a united people, enlightened in their choice and abstaining from (…) divulging military secrets or all other information whose publication may endanger territorial integrity".
Art. 7: "Promote fraternity and professional solidarity (…) by refusing
to slander a fellow colleague, speak ill of him or spread gossips of a
nature to affect the exercise of his duties".
The Executive Council calls for the strict respect of the rules of
professional ethics in the treatment of information and the observance
of mutual respect, the failure of which can only weaken the profession.
- On the treatment of information pertaining to the phenomenon of homosexuality which is resurfacing in the Cameroon press today, revealing in its way the manipulation to which the media and journalists, by lack of professionalism are exposed, the Council notes that the latest developments (revelations of some "victims") vindicates the stand of the CUJ, which at that time had condemned the practice of the "journalism of lists" to the detriment of investigative journalism.
The Council recalls duty No.3 of the journalist as provided by the code of ethics (art. 3), "Respect of the right of persons to privacy and human dignity. To this effect, defamation, insults, slander and malicious insinuations are considered as the worst professional faults".
It recalls on this subject that the first duty of the journalist provided for in the code is to "respect truth, whatever the consequences, for the simple reason that the public has a right to know the truth. In this regard, the mission of the journalist as communicator has to guide him to offer to the public true, honest and objective information as complete as possible, void of defamation and all intentional manipulation of facts, and only publish information whose source is known and verifiable, or if necessary, follow such information with the required reservation.
While drawing the attention of journalists and other media practitioners to these constant manipulations with which they are confronted in the daily exercise of their duty, the Executive Council calls on public authorities in general and those charged with the aforementioned affair in particular, to act transparently in furnishing the public in general and the media in particular with information relating to this; notably in facilitating access to official sources as expressed in the memorandum submitted to the government in 1998, during the first contact meeting between the Council and the Prime Minister, Head of Government.
For example: The Executive Council congratulates the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense on his decision to issue a press release following the recent attacks in Bakassi.
On the issue of journalists assaulted in the exercise of their duties and especially sports journalists, the Council recalls that "the journalist has rights of protection and assistance from public authorities in the exercise of his/her duties" (art. 13 of the code of ethics), the Executive Council condemns attacks suffered by journalists during sporting events organised by FECAFOOT, notably during the press conference of the national football team in Yaounde and during the match between Aigle de Dschang, and Foudre d´Akonolinga in Dschang.
On the subject of the reopening of media houses that were closed down, notably Equinoxe TV, Radio Equinoxe and Magic FM, the Council expresses satisfaction with the decision of the public authorities to re-open these media houses and calls for a strict application of the rules and regulations in this domain to guard against administrative arbitrariness.
The Council urges Government to work towards the consolidation of press freedom without giving in to reactionary forces like some Members of Parliament, MPs, suggested during the last parliamentary session.
Finally, the Executive Council of the CUJ expresses its solidarity with fellow colleagues of Senegal and the Senegalese Union of Journalists, for the fight against violence on Senegalese journalists during the exercise of their functions.
Done in Buea, July 26, 2008
For the Executive Council
The President
Charles Ndi Chia
This paragraph is kind of bewildering to me: "While drawing the attention of journalists and other media practitioners to these constant manipulations with which they are confronted in the daily exercise of their duty, the Executive Council calls on public authorities in general and those charged with the aforementioned affair in particular, to act transparently in furnishing the public in general and the media in particular with information relating to this; notably in facilitating access to official sources as expressed in the memorandum submitted to the government in 1998, during the first contact meeting between the Council and the Prime Minister, Head of Government."
I thought the media was supposed to act as the 4th estate, a watchdog role over the 3 arms of government, judiciary, legislative and executive. It troubles me that journalists expect to be "furnished" information by the government. I respect a journalist who asks tough questions and demands answers from not just the government but any news source. Failure to do so, a news medium becomes simply a public relations arm of the government, political parties, or other people in high places. It is my opinion that the government or arms of government are not and should not be allies of the media, otherwise the media gives up objectivity. All people in power try to manipulate the media. Its the journalist's role to find his/ her sources, to cross check the facts from the government and to present any untruths in official releases be it from the government, opposition or other powerful people.
The Cameroonian media terrain is a difficult one and I respect the people who brave the challenges everyday especially in the private sector.
However, I think many times I think the media is still locked in the CRTV/ Cameroon tribune approach which dictates that news goes to the reporter rather than the reporter going after news, otherwise known as armchair journalism.
Posted by: Tadoh | Sunday, 10 August 2008 at 11:42 PM