By NOELA EBOB BISONG
With the Anglophone crisis still far from over, and the year 2018 being an elections loaded year in Cameroon, efforts are being made at the level of the fourth estate (Media), to ensure that violence does not escalate. This is with regards to the formidable role the media plays in the sustenance of every society.
It is under this premise that a two day capacity building workshop on ‘Media and Elections Reporting, and Crisis and Peace Journalism’ has taken place in Limbe, organized by the Fako divisional delegation of communication. The event took place on March 20thand 21stat the Limbe city council hall in down beach.
As the workshop commenced, the 1st Assistant Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) who represented the SDO, revealed that the administration is committed to ensure journalists carry-out their activities in a peaceful and secured atmosphere, and that freedom of expression and access to information is a reality in Cameroon. He thus imploredjournalists to make the best out of the workshop as they remain ethical, with regards to the ongoing situations in the country.
Fako Divisional Delegate for communication, Madam Olive Ejang, emphasized that the topics for the workshop were carefully chosen in line with the present context in the country, and she elaborated the vital role of the media in peace, crisis management and conflict resolution.
The question of Journalism ethics, especially in the digital age set the stage for the workshop, as Prof Che Julius Tita interacted with the media professionals on the ethics, new demands and what is to be done.
Well-grounded in journalism ethics, the journalists were schooled on the purpose, mechanisms and various elections in Cameroon, as well as the laws governing elections. This was facilitated by Magistrate MalombaEsembe.
Veteran journalist and civil society activist, Victor EpieNgome, came in and discussed with the media practitioners on the whole issue of Elections Reporting. Various techniques of elections rigging were outlined, the responsibilities of the journalist defined, and the challenges they face enumerated.
All of the above was on day one (March 20). The second day of the workshop took another direction and the focus was on peace journalism, conflict and the link between peace journalism and elections.
On Peace Journalism, it was Manyanye Paul Ikome, on Peace and Conflict and how journalists can deal with rumours, it was Wolfram Metzig and on Peace Journalism and Elections, NforHanson came in to educate his colleagues on the whole concept (peace journalism) and its necessity in present day Cameroon.
This issue of Peace Journalism was central in the workshop, as many a media practitioner tried understanding the concept. ‘Does it not hinge on objectivity? Does it not give way to imbalance? Or,Is it not a form of Press manipulation?’etc, were the various points of contention.
However, at the end of the day, it was understood that Peace Journalism means reporting all sides of a story and going an extra step to get possible solutions to a crisis. Also, it entails a careful use of language, professionalism and credibility. Its essence, it was emphasized has to do with the fact that the role of journalism in every society is to make, and not mal.
Hence, Fako Journalists were entreated to give Peace Journalism a chance!