By Doh James Sonkey
Media professionals in Cameroon have vowed to denounce the use of hate speech in the country’s media landscape and isolate perpetrators of such acts that undermine professional ethics and the principle of social peace.
The decision was taken last September 11, 2018 at the Yaounde Mont Febe Hotel by media professionals during a national awareness seminar on hate speech in the media in Cameroon organized by the National Communication Council, NCC under the high patronage of the Prime Minister, Head of Government in partnership with the UNESCO’s Multi Sectoral Regional Office for Central Africa.
Participants after noting with dismay an increased use of hate speech in the media in Cameroon recommended that only the respect of the ethics of the journalism profession and the social responsibility of the journalist can spare professionals from such a dangerous and regrettable practice.
Addressing participants, the President of the National Communication Council, Peter Essoka stressed that “hate speech is the expression of how political conflicts, interethnic clashes, wrangling in professional circles, surging intolerance and plummeting patriotism have been moved to the media. It is the proliferation of declarations that threaten social order by undermining the stability of institutions, social peace or the respectability of persons.”
The NCC President explained that through this national seminar, they wish to see Cameroonians cultivate dialogue, encourage diversity and the respect of differences and above all elevate national essential values of peace, unity, security, territorial integrity or better still, patriotism.
Peter Essoka called on media professionals to distant themselves from the use of hate speech whose extreme consequences include; deepening division in the society, radicalization, increased extremism and shrinking national morale which are bedrocks of wars and instability.
On his part, Prof Enoh Tanjong of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department of the University of Buea in his expose on Hate speech and its impact on the media audience described hate speech as a killer weapon.
He concluded his presentation by urging owners of media organs to avoid recruiting their professionals from a single tribe “because tribal affiliation of key management staff provides orientation for hate speech and provides a cover for it.”
Other presentations were done on: Hate speech in the media; definition, manifestations and Consequences by UNESCO’s expert, Dr Moussa Sawadogo, Hate speech and social morality by the Parish Pastor of PC Bastos, Rev Emmanuel Masok Bassam, Hate speech eradication mechanisms and consumer protection measures concerning media productions by the Director the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC in Yaounde, Prof Charles Boyomo Assala.