The Guardian Post Political Desk Editor wins Best Print Journalist Award.

The recognition was conferred on the print media star boy by members of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA.

This was during the maiden edition of CENPA Award Night which held at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel. 

The event, which was staged under the distinguished patronage of the Minister of Communication, was attended by several top government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, political, religious, civil society and traditional authorities, among others.

The distinction, CENPA award jury, headed by international lawyer and anti-corruption champion, Barrister Akere Muna, disclosed, was on the basis of merit. 

Other members of the jury that vetted the recognition included the Paramount ruler of the Bafaw and King of Kumba, Senator Nfon Mukete IV Ekoko; international award-winning peace and women advocate, Esther Omam, and the President of CENPA cum Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post, Ngah Christian Mbipgo. 

The jury said the award is for Maxcel Fokwen’s “…for demonstrating high-level professionalism in news sourcing, treatment and commentary writing”. 

Laureate dedicates award to colleagues 

Reacting to the distinction, Fokwen told The Guardian Post, that: “I give glory to God for the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that He makes everything beautiful in His time”.

He added that: “It is also a season for me to thank CENPA, the award jury, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Post and my colleagues at The Guardian Post”.

He dedicated the prize to “to journalists in conflict zones especially those killed on line of duty in the North West and South West regions and others who have come under attack of any sort while engaged in the practice of the noble profession of journalism”.

Award rather calls for more work

The award-winning journalist also indicated, that: “I see this as rather a call to step up the quality of my works as a journalist and not a reason to celebrate. It is easy to go up but staying there is where we all have a challenge as human beings. So, personally, I will reinforce my journalism practice and other professional ventures to serve the public interest”.

Retracing Fokwen’s inspiring career 

The graduate of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, JMC, of the University of Buea, UB, has over 12 years of work experience. 

He also holds a certificate in Newsroom Conflict from the Agha Khan University, Graduate School of Media & Communications in Kenya.

Fokwen started off as a reporter for The Standard Tribune in Kumba, Meme Division, South West Region.

He later gained employment at The Guardian Post, serving as its pioneer South West Bureau Chief between 2011 and 2013. 

In August 2013, he was recruited as a reporter for Buea-based biweekly newspaper, The Post. This came following a three-month suspension slammed on The Guardian Post newspaper then by the National Communication Council, NCC. 

Fokwen worked at The Post for seven years, having command over a news basin covering Meme, Ndian, Kupe-Muanenguba, Manyu and Lebialem Divisions of the South West Region as Bureau Chief.

In August 2019, Fokwen returned to The Guardian Post this time as a Desk Editor. He was later appointed Political Desk Editor before being elected Staff Delegate at the close of the same year. 

In October 2020, Fokwen was named Managing Editor of The Guardian Post. He held the position till January 8, 2023. 

Fokwen has worked extensively with several other media organs cutting across the print and broadcast sectors. 

He is a former staff of the online news portal, The National Times. He is also a former South West correspondent of Douala-based Balafon Radio.

In 2020, Fokwen won the Third Prize of the national reporting contest on Land Governance and Natural Resource Management in Cameroon sponsored. 

In 2019, he was awarded Best Print Media journalist by the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking journalists, CAMASEJ, Meme chapter. 

He has keen interest in democracy, human rights, minority rights and development journalism. Beyond journalism, Fokwen has also performed public relations roles for several institutions.

This story was first Published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3192 of Wednesday August 07, 2024