By DANIELA NEBA NGUM
The President of the National Communication Council, NCC Peter Esoka has disclosed that in some days ahead the council will extend its services to the 10 regions of the country.
He made known this information on May 4 during a meeting the council had with media practitioners in Kumba. The visit which was in line with the celebrations marking World Press Freedom Day 2017, aimed at raising awareness on the need to promote peace rather than stir uprising in the country.
The President noted that the proliferation of media houses in the country makes it difficult for the NCC, which is based only in Yaoundé, to regulate the activities of these media houses.
Reasons why he said some press organs go against the deontology of the profession and are have not been sanctioned.
He stated that the creation of regional bureaus will assist those who have worries or problems with a media house to go and complain for further investigations.
The President further revealed that the choice of the Southwest Region is as a result of the ongoing crisis. ‘It is important to raise awareness on media circles to promote peace and togetherness, just like the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day’.
He cited the case of UNESCO which for years now have been promoting journalism that report peace in conflict societies.
Peter Esoka called on journalists to endeavour to uphold the canons of journalism by doing balanced and objective reports.
He condemned journalists who report based on rumours and not facts and declared that the NCC will not spear any media involve in such practices.
In as much as the NCC council is in charge of regularizing activities of the press, the President told press men that the council intends to reward journalists who work according to the ethics of the profession.
Talking about journalists who are detained, the Vice President like the President said they are doing everything to ensure their release though they have their limits.
Earlier on the Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Ngoh Nkele in his welcome address noted that a responsible journalist should not make any careless decision from outsiders to influence his report.
He said all over the world the media is responsible for the behavior of the masses as such the media has to practice responsible journalism in order for the population to be responsible.