Elections reporting: Gov't should provide equity, freedom.

In his words, they are: "To inform citizens about the procedures and stakes of the election, explain electoral mechanisms in clear, accessible language, offer balanced and diverse coverage of all candidates and political trends and fight misinformation, rumours and hate speech”. 

"You are mediators of democratic stakes, not participants in political competition," he added. 

To do that, he said they should: "Resist any form of pressure, political or financial, avoid aligning with any candidate or ideology, never accept gifts, favours, or advantages that could affect your impartiality, be vigilant with sources and verify facts from all sides before broadcasting them". 

The Guardian Post salutes him for reminding journalists, especially those of the not-for-profit community radio stations, who depend on charity from councils for stipends that can hardly keep them away from "gombo".

Though they can hardly be independent in penury, it should not, however, be their modus operandi. 

Many journalists, especially in Africa, should be aware of the media guideline based on the Search for Common Ground, SFCG, research conducted in Burundi and Guinea, with the support of the National Democratic Institute, Radio France Internationale, USAID, Swiss Cooperation, and the European Union. 

It's like the "Bible" for election reporting in the continent still grappling with rigged elections, intimidation and even killing of journalists for standing up to the truth.

The guide point is that the role of journalists is particularly crucial during the election process. In an often fragile context, and with a mind to conflict prevention, journalists must depend on their professional skills.

They must commit to delivering thorough, verified, and unbiased information, pulled from a number of diverse sources, to their listeners or readers. 

At the same time, they must refrain from publishing information that encourages division or antagonistic discussions, which are likely to incite violence or jeopardise social cohesion.

That is the role of journalists; be it in the radio, television, print or social media. 

This year’s October presidential election is pregnant with heightened media coverage as the opposition hankers for change and the ruling party wants to stay put, after over four decades and urging a 92-year-old incumbent to seek another term.

It is a challenging context for journalists to adhere to their professional ethics and "educate" their audience.

The government should set the stage by providing freedom for reporters to report the activities of both the ruling party and that of the opposition. 

But is that what is applicable, especially in the government media? Will CRTV and Cameroon Tribune reporters be allowed to report the activities of an opposition party as they would for the CPDM?

Take the case of the MRC leader, Prof Maurice Kamto. There was a peaceful demonstration in Douala by his supporters to welcome him from Paris, with the scoop being his house arrest. Did the government media report it?

Wasn't it professionally responsible for the media to cover the event as a sign of impartiality so as to earn their credibility?

As research has established, "in an electoral democracy, protest provides an essential voice for minority groups. The classic theorists of representational government recognised that universal suffrage and majority voting threaten to impose the ‘tyranny of the majority’ and override the rights of minorities. Protests are a vital corrective to majority rule".

According to concordant academic findings, "one way in which the establishment maintains its power is by creating a dominant discourse from which dissidents’’ views are excluded. Public demonstrations and marches empower people by showing them that there are thousands of people who think the same".

Those in power may try to ignore protests by instructing State media not to cover them. Unfortunately, that is when the debate begins, based on truth and facts and often the governing party is stuck in a certain mindset and cannot change its thinking.

But then, a new generation may come along, unencumbered by past thinking, and see that the views of the protesters were just common sense. In that case, responsible journalism demands that those views should not be stifled.

The classic rule which no journalist needs to be reminded is that the media "informs, entertains and educates".

"Educating" the electorate about injustice in the electoral process should be paramount. For instance, if the ballot paper of another political party is finished and officials continue with the voting, it is rigging and should be reported as such and condemned in opinion segments.

In ensuring uncompromised reporting, the government media should be seen to report the activities of the opposition, with the same depth as they do with that of the ruling party.

Both journalists from the independent media often ridiculed as the "private press", and those from the government-owned media, should have equal access to election officials, counting centres and booths.

The Guardian Post applauds the interest of the National Communication Council in supporting programmes that ensure accurate electoral reporting before, during and after the coming presidential election. 

Government, on its part, should ensure reporters have access to the full process while equal coverage of contestants should be guaranteed and not the discriminating process where time allocated by CRTV for political campaigns is determined by representation at the National Assembly.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3475 of Monday June 16, 2025