University of Buea: Journalism department boss, Dr Nengieh Lizzie, defends another PhD.

Her work was assessed for two hours by a six-man team led by Prof Yenshu Emmanuel Vubo as chairperson. 

Other members of the panel were; Professors Thomas Atenga and Julius Che Tita as rapporteurs, Professor Kingsley Ngange and Victor Ngu Cheo as supervisors. Another member was Professor Henry Muluh.

The work was titled: “Journalists’ Appraisal of Press Freedom in Cameroon”. 

The researcher explained that her interest in investigating journalists’ appraisal of press freedom was spurred by the continuous decline in press freedom in Cameroon based on statistics from the World Press Freedom Index. 

She said the continuous decline pushed her into finding out with a goal to proposing solutions.

Dr Nengieh also talked of difficulties journalists face in carrying out their duties and the challenge of having access to information. 

She indicated that the study aimed to assess the level of government control on the press, censorship, state of professionalism, attacks meted on the press and measures put in place to improve the practice of journalism.

The researcher disclosed that she carried out interviews and sent out questionnaires targeting 270 journalists in five regions of the country viz; North West, South West, Littoral, Centre and North. 

She said only 40.7% of the respondents had a positive appraisal of press freedom in the country. 

The 40.7% satisfaction of journalists on press freedom, the researcher said, reflects a moderate level of press freedom. 

Dr Nengieh said the country must strive to reach 80%, which is the threshold for measuring press freedom.

While acknowledging that it remains difficult for Cameroon to attain the needed 80% threshold, she expressed the need for journalists to understand such concepts for best practices.

In this light, she recommended that policymakers and perpetrators of attacks, threats and other ills against journalists be educated. 

Such, she added, must be made to understand that the journalist is a professional who is there to serve the public by getting information and transmitting it to the public for informed decision-making.

Supervisor salutes work

Prof. Kingsley Ngange, the main supervisor of the candidate praised the work as a masterpiece, which is timely, given that press freedom is universal and topical. 

Attacks on press freedom, he said, are universal. Prof Ngange said the work is the candidate’s contribution to knowledge in the area.

He said the finding of 40% percent of journalists being satisfied shows the distance press freedom has covered in the last 34 years in Cameroon. Prof Ngange opined that it is a sign the country is on the right path.

The scholar called on policymakers, journalism trainers and other stakeholders to see how “we can move up to the threshold of 80%, which is the recommended standard worldwide in terms of press freedom to make Cameroon more democratic”. 

Prof Ngange said societies become more develop and safer when there is press freedom. He noted that the more professional journalists get, the more attacks they receive from government and other officials. 

Prof Ngange insisted that it is prudent for journalists to stay professional despite the challenges, and keep doing their job.

To recall that Dr Nengieh Lizzie Wantchami defended her first PhD degree in Educational Foundations and Administration. 

She was praised by the chair of the defence panel Professor Yenshu Emmanuel Vubo for her commitment and hard work as a teacher, Head of Department and a student.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3169 of Monday July 15, 2024