By SIMON NDIVE KALLA
Journalists and some members of the civil society have been drilled on how to access information and public data during crisis period. This was during a two days seminar which started on Thursday September 19-Friday September 20, 2019 at Atlantic Beach Hotel in Limbe. The seminar, organised by Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA and National Endowment for Democracy, NED brought together Media proprietors, Journalists and civil society organisations.
According to Paul-Joel Kamtchang, the project coordinator of ADISI, the event is aimed at improving relations between local administration and local journalists. He added that it is also to develop a mechanism to facilitate access to information with the necessary tools adopted by participants and to bring local government, civil society and journalists from the South West Region together to discuss their professional relationship.
Kim Leonard, President of SNJC South West Region regretted the fact that, “Because of the lack of security and means to access core conflict areas, many journalists lack direct access to first-hand information on developments on ground.”
He also stressed that, most journalists in remote communities have fled to safer locations in towns, reducing the capacity of most city based reporters to confirm collected information as well as the fact that during ‘ghost towns’ and extensive lockdowns, journalists are limited to collect information on news happenings.
On her part, the Divisional Delegate of Communication for Fako, Olive Ejang Tebug said the media in Cameroon is averagely free but due to a low professional standard resulting from poor working conditions, poor salaries and lack of integrity on the part of media practitioners, some form of control is relevant in order to serve not only public interest but safeguard national goals.
She emphasised that, for a free press to persist in Cameroon, there is need for a financial, psychology, structural and independent viable media system.
Olive Ejang challenged the participants to rise to the challenges of the times and shape society for the best, while urging journalists and other media workers in the digital age to seize the opportunity of the moment to uphold best practices and expand their influence.
“Let us change the narrative for the good of the society. I assure you that, irrespective of the challenges, the government remains committed to partner with the media in building a peaceful, free and just society. I encourage us all to contribute in enhancing the concept of living together within our society”, Olive Ejang told participants.
During the two-day event, participants were drilled on better ways to access information from the administration, colleagues, social media etc. they also exchanged ideas and personal experiences during discussion sessions.