At NW Media Forum: Journalists enjoined to remain professional, ethical, shun hate speech….

The call was made during a two-day North West Media Forum, organised by the Bamenda Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English-Speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ; from January15 to 16, in Bamenda.

The forum took place under the theme: “Reviving the media: Reclaiming Dignity, Rebuilding Journalism, Renewing Hope”.

The Minister of Communication was represented at the event by the North West Regional Delegate of Communication, Njike Celestine. 

Also present was Ignatius Ekalle, Inspector General at the North West Governor's Office, representing Governor Lele Lafrique; the Mayor of Bamenda I Council, Mbigha Felix; and CAMASEJ National President, Viban Jude. 

CAMASEJ Bamenda President, Sah Terence Animbom, revealed that the North West Media Forum was inspired by deep reflection on the working conditions of journalists in the Region, and a reflection on the quality of journalism that is being practiced, as journalists are working under very challenging circumstances. 

"Eighty percent of journalists in the private media sector in Cameroon do not have employment contracts, regular salaries and any form of social security. A journalist has to work for 15 to 20 years and goes on retirement with nothing to show for,” he regretted.

Sah Terence added that the two-day forum was for journalists to reflect and come out with solutions that can enable them to practice journalism, live decently from it and also go on retirement secured for the future. 

"We want to get every journalist into this reflection process so that together, we can come up with workable solutions," he said.

He further noted that he hopes that by the end of the forum, they would come up with a working plan to either start up something like a social security scheme for journalists, a development fund for the media, and have a way of ensuring that every journalist is secured.

Meanwhile, Njike Celestine, North West Regional Delegate of Communication, revealed that the Ministry of Communication has set part of its budget as subsidies to the private media, in order to support the media and ameliorate the working conditions of journalists. 

"We have also carried out seminars in order to empower the media. A good example is the last seminar that was held to empower journalists on good practices in elections reporting," he said.

The minister's representative further acknowledged the harsh conditions of journalists in the North West Region. He noted that North West-based journalists operate under highly volatile and dangerous environment 

"...they face economic hardship, insecurity, psychological trauma and serious threats that often force self-censorship and undermine press freedom," he noted.

Njike Celestine, however, praised the journalists for remaining resilient and adaptive, nothing that community radios, online platforms and citizen journalists play a vital role in informing, entertaining and educating communities.

The two-day event ended with a roundtable presentation on press, censorship and safety in the context of the Anglophone crisis, and a prize award to some outstanding and credible journalists in the Region.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3678 of Monday January 19, 2026