By Ndefru Melanie in Douala
Journalists overtime, since the beginning of the Anglophone crisis have reported on several issues, touching on the lives of vulnerable persons in the course of the crisis; women, children. These journalists may have been doing so, without the use of appropriate words in describing the situation and experiences.
This was in line with a workshop that took place in Douala, a training of reporters on Ethical and Efficient Reporting On Linguistic Minorities in The Media, organised By The United Nations Centre For Human Rights And Democracy In Central Africa. It held to ensure that reporters understand those considered as minorities and how best to choose to use diction while reporting.
Holding on the 26th and 27th of October 2022, over 30 journalists drawn from the Northwest, Southwest and Littoral converged to understand the concept of reporting on minorities, as Joseph Fajong of the Communication Department of the UN Human Rights and team thought it necessary to fine tune their skills.
According to Zoe Poznicek, the Human Rights Associate in the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, looked at the linguistic diversity in Cameroon, noting that it must be harnessed for the good of the people and that the media has a crucial role to play.
She invited Cameroonian journalists to report on the human rights concerns embedded in linguistic minority. In the course of the Anglophone crisis turned an armed conflict, women and children continue to be victims, are vulnerable to the effects of the crisis.
Tricia Oben who facilitated a key aspect of the workshop that revolved on the role of the media in the promotion and protection of minority rights revealed that “in as much as the media wanted to report, most media houses also had to pay bills and feed. She encouraged journalists to be steadfast in their reporting, making the voices of these minorities heard.
“Pertinence, profitability, survival, newsroom dynamics…. It is important for you as a journalist to tell those stories that are under-reported, let the voices of minorities be heard and there is just that one story that will bring you to the Lamplight”, she explained after sharing her experience as a media woman.
According to Zoe Poznicek, who presented a paper on Linguistic Minority rights and Discrimination in Cameroon raising the UN Declaration of 1992, which captures minority as less than 50%. One of their principal features is that they are indigenous.
Indigenous people in Cameroon include; the Bakas and the Bororos.
To her, specific linguistic rights constitute; education, public services and the availability of justice.
Hilaire Kamga, another facilitator dwelled on the new law done in official languages in Cameroon and linguistic minorities. He highlighted the constitutional and legal provisions that are available to protect minorities and gave out some of these to participants for reference.
The Littoral Regional Delegate for Communication, Mrs Marie Laure Mokoko told the journalists that they are relevant, more than ever before to bring to the limelight the disturbing issues around linguistic minorities across Cameroon.
It is expected that participants know the new things on reporting linguistic minority, report about them so as to integrate them in everyday management of the country, taking into account how UN institutions dwell on minority issues.
Through a different style of reporting, journalists will in a way improve on the perception of minority issues in society, make known instruments to serve justice to minorities and most importantly, allow them tell their stories themselves. This will help policy makers make informed decisions.
Muma Sandrine is a reporter in the Northwest region, she talks about the concept off reporting on minority issues as new, but believes aspects of the training will not go to waste.
“I am fascinated by the issues arround minorities, in the context of the Anglophone crisis, it is important to know the exact words to use while reporting about those vulnerable, minority. I am glad to have been part of this training, this should continue in my way of reporting”.
Journalists, Participants at the workshop in Douala