October polls: NewSETA trains journalists on peace, elections reporting.

The training took place in Yaounde September 11 to 12, 2025. It was under the theme: “Media, peace and elections”. 

The Director of Communication at the National Communication Council, NCC, Alain Denis Mbezele, opened discussions on behalf his boss, Joseph Chebongkeng Kalabubse. This was in the presence of the Executive Director of NewSETA, Ndzi Derick Jitzi.

Also present was the Head of Department of Sociology at the University of Yaounde I, Prof Armand Leka Essomba, and the civil society activist, Yaa Gladys Viban.

Mbezele reminded journalists of ethical necessities that must guide their work during elections. 

“Respect for transparency, respect for pluralism, respect for balance, and equal access to campaign programmes during the election campaign,” he stated.

Journalists, the NCC representative stated, must also commit to fighting disinformation and hate speech, which he said are threats to social cohesion, particularly in an electoral context.

According to the Executive Director of NewSETA, Ndzi Derick Jitzi, the presidential election of October 12 and others after require journalists to hone their skills.

Jitzi said the training “…will influence how stories are told, how truth is defended, and how democracy is strengthened in Cameroon”.

The Executive Director recalled that in 2024, NewSETA carried out a national survey on access to information, targeting 96 public institutions and over 280 key stakeholders. 

The study, he said, revealed persistent barriers for journalists and citizens in obtaining public information, fueling renewed calls for the adoption of a Freedom of Information Law in Cameroon. 

He recalled that this year “we collaborate with stakeholders and legal experts to propose a draft Freedom of Information Law to the government. Our expectation is that these efforts will contribute to strengthening the ecosystem for freedom of expression in Cameroon”.

He underscored that free and fair elections are not limited to the act of casting a ballot. “Voters must also have access to enough information about political parties, their candidates, and the electoral process to make informed and responsible choices” Jitzi noted.

Journalists, she stated, help prevent elections from becoming, “contests of rumor rather than contests of ideas”.  

The press, the Executive Director insisted, must question and scrutinize promises; reminding candidates that their duty is to citizens. He underscored that the words used by journalists can also either foster unity or trigger tension.

“Ethical journalism is not a luxury during elections; it is the very foundation of democracy,” he said, noting that citizens will look to the media not just for news, but also for clarity, fairness, and hope.

He tasked journalists to rise above partisan battles and sensationalism. Jitzi said with the presidential election just days away, if journalists, “…remain committed to truth and integrity” your work “will not only cover elections, it will protect them. You will safeguard the democratic process itself”.

Through the training, he said NewSETA seeks to ensure journalists, “…share information not intended to provoke conflict but that promotes peaceful cohesion”.

“We believe that journalists are peace builders, nation builders, and actors in strengthening our democracy,” the Executive Director stated.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3565 of Monday September 15, 2025