CENPA knights media personality of mettle, Joe Chebongkeng.

The President of the National Communication Council, NCC, was handed the prize during a maiden award ceremony organised by the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA. 

The ceremony was held recently in Yaounde. 

The media colossus was distinguished as Media Personality of the Year 2023.

The award ceremony was staged under the auspices of the Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi.

It was chaired by the Secretary General at the Ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo.

Several government ministers, including that of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu were conspicuously present. 

Chebongkeng was selected by a high-level jury, chaired by renowned lawyer, Barrister Akere Muna.

Other members of the jury included Senator Ekoko Mukete lV, Esther Omam and Ngah Christian Mbipgo.   

According to Barrister Akere Muna, the president of the award jury, the recognition was conferred on the NCC boss for “demonstrating a never-seen level-headedness, neutrality and professionalism in handling complaints brought to the council against media organs”.

The jury said Chebongkeng was also distinguished for “masterminding an open-door policy at the NCC in looking for solutions to challenges facing the media industry in the country”. 

He received a certificate of recognition and a trophy from the hands of the Secretary General at the Ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo.

Award a “pleasant surprise”

Speaking to the press after the award ceremony, Chebongkeng said the award was a “pleasant surprise”. 

“It’s always gratifying to note that people note and follow keenly what you are doing. Being the Media Personality of The Year, its intriguing to me because I am the one sanctioning people in the press,” he said, adding that: “It shows some degree of integrity of the jury because the personalities that make up the members of the jury are unquestionable”. 

The NCC president insisted that the award comes as a motivation to further sanction unprofessional conducts in the media landscape of the country. 

“I don’t think that it’s going to come again because I’m going to sanction more given what’s happening in the media today,” he added. 

“Sometimes you do things without realising that people are following you. I was so moved by the award, being the Media Personality of The Year,” the NCC boss told The Guardian Post. 

Noting that the press in any society is a reflection of what the society is, the NCC boss called on media practitioners to be as responsible as possible.

“If you become reckless in your writings and utterances, you lose that credibility of being a responsible journalist. Also, you would reflect what Cameroon is...we think that Cameroon is not a reckless society,” he assured. 

Despite the disdainful look of the media in the country, Chebongkeng assured that there are still silver linings as more and more media practitioners are upholding professionalism and ethics. 

“Through this award, my call to you is to be more responsible,” he further pleaded. 

He, however, reiterated that the communication council will not stop sensitising and calling on journalists to be responsible. He was categorical that the body wouldn’t hesitate to sanction if the need arises.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3190 of August 05, 2024