During tour to TV stations in Yaounde: NCC boss urges media practitioners to uphold professionalism.

He made the appeal on Thursday August 29. This was at the end of a tour to some private television channels in the nation's capital. 

During his tour, the NCC boss visited CAM10 Television, Info TV, and Vision 4 Television. A courtesy visit was also paid to Wafrica Television at its Tsinga head office. 

The NCC boss was accompanied by his close collaborators like the Secretary General, service heads of the various departments. Two experts; ace journalists Jean Lambert Nang and Dr Hughes Francois Onana, were also part of the NCC delegation. 

According to the NCC boss, the aim of the tour was to sensitise these media houses on best practices of the profession. 

He said this was because of the recurrent trend in hateful, violent, uncivil behaviour and statements made by guests during talk shows and interactive programmes. 

Chebongkeng said the visit was to have a feel of what is happening in the newsroom concerning the “conception, packaging and delivery of interactive and debate programmes”. 

According to the NCC president, these have been major causes for concern lately, which needed to be addressed without further delay.

At his various stopovers at media houses, Chebongkeng reminded media proprietors, journalists and hosts of talk-shows and interactive programmes, that they had a duty to inform society. 

He told the members of the fourth estate during his day-long tour that there are a lot of inconveniences during debates or television shows. 

According to him, Cameroonians love debate and interactive programmes. He, however, regretted the fact that these programmes are often marked by insults, fights and other unprofessional practices. 

Chebongkeng mentioned that journalists are often overshadowed by their panellists. He went further to stress that they have to be the master on the set, regardless of the portfolio of the guests they invite. 

NCC boss bemoaned the fact that some journalists are either afraid, do not do their homework, or are ignorant of professional ethics. 

He told journalists that as the country is moving toward a crucial turning points of its history, it was imperative to discuss what they have noticed through their monitoring.  

“We had to move down to the newsrooms to be able to talk to journalists and programme moderators on the unprofessional attitude we watch almost every weekend. And what we have noticed is we have had people with receptive ears, others wanting to defend why they do what they do, and we listened carefully,” Chebongkeng said. 

He advised journalists to remain professional and not to fall into the dragnets of the NCC. Chebongkeng told them that they could anchor debate and interactive programmes without incriminating, without insulting, and without arguing on the set. 

“We call on programme moderators to be as professional as possible. You can still attract viewership without insulting others or without allowing panellist to insult each other on the set,” Chebongkeng advised.

Experts give tips for successful debate, interactive programmes 

The two experts who accompanied the president of the NCC and his powerful delegation during the media tour; Jean Lambert Nang and Dr Hughes Francois Onana, gave tips on how to plan for a successful debate programme.

Dr Hughes Francois Onana schooled the media practitioners on the choice of guest. He said journalists have to respect the canons of the profession. 

He told them that they are the mirror of the society and have a country to defend and to make the country move forward and not drag it in the mud.

According to the university professor, the choice of guest was very important. He revealed that the guests on set must not be selected “because they are your friend”. 

Dr Onana stressed that “they must be selected in relation to the topic and their competence”. He also revealed that “you cannot invite an all-men panellist. Gender is also important”. 

Dr Onana also reminded them of the need to rotate guests, saying guests should be diverse. The same guests, he insisted, should not be used over and over again. 

“Do not limit yourself to some particular guests,” Dr Onana advised. 

“Every debates should have an objective”

On his part Jean Lambert Nang hammered on the objectives of debates. He said every debate should have an objective. 

The former journalist of the Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV, lamented that debates are preaching more of conflict than living together. He said their themes are “divisive and not constructed towards contributing to national unity”. 

“Debates are preaching hate, disunity. Viewers should be able to retain something positive from television debates. That should be your mission,” Nang said.  

We see university dons dominating presenters and transforming panel discussions into wrestling rings. Journalists are the root cause of these. There's a way to handle debates. Do not allow yourself to be intimidated. Do presenters have the courage to tell guests that they've gone out of topic?” He questioned. 

According to Nang, journalists are supposed to be responsible. He said their responsibility at the end of debates should be to contribute to something extra to change the way the country is run. Nang said debates should influence policy-makers to change the narrative and take decisions to ameliorate the living conditions of citizens. 

Media practitioners discuss challenges

Reacting to the message of the NCC and its experts, media professionals promised to put in practice what they have learnt during the exchange. 

They, however, seized the occasion to disclose some of the challenges they face while producing debate and interactive programmes. 

Most of the challenges centred on the difficulties in having guests for programmes as some frequently turn down invitations while others are reluctant to speak. 

They said the realities of the state media was not the same with the private press. Some admitted to hosting tense debates because they get juicy adverts to run during those debates. There was, however, a collective desire to yield to the advice of the NCC to change the narrative. 

NCC boss salutes media houses 

In his second visit to the fast rising private television station, CAM10 television in three years, the NCC boss was pleased that significant progress has been made since the last visit. 

Chebongkeng expressed satisfaction that thanks to a push from the NCC, CAM10 TV was now on satellite. He congratulated the team for a job well done. He mentioned that they are among the television stations he watches and admires. 

At Info TV, which also received a push from the NCC to appear on satellite, the NCC boss saluted the President of Group La Meteo, Dieudonne Mveng, for the strides made over the years albeit the challenges. 

The NCC boss was also impressed with the professionalism of Vision 4 barely a year since his last visit there. 

On his visit to Wafrica television, Chebongkeng thanked the Director, Jacques Koukam, for the initiative, encouraging the team and pledging the institutions support. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3217 of Monday September 02, 2024