Camer Today trains journalism students on newsroom life.

Participants were final year students from the University of Bamenda, UBa, the University of Buea, UB, and the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC. 

Organisers said the goal was to enlighten journalism students on transitioning from the lecture hall to the professional world. 

Award-winning journalist and business reporter at Ecofin Agency, Cynthia Ebot, and Account Director at African Press Organisation, APO Group, Njie Enow Ebai, shared best practices with participants. 

Ebot challenged the student journalist to first master the craft before beginning their careers. 

“Get the basics of writing right and look for opportunities to practice while you are still students,” Ebot told them. 

She emphasised the need for student journalists to “put yourself in spaces that matter to maximise opportunities”.

On the inevitable hurdles of a media career, Ebot encouraged students to view rejection as a stepping stone.

Ebot also addressed the specific challenges women face in the industry and advocated high ethical standards. 

“Know your boundaries, make strategic connections, and position yourself not to make the same mistakes, have integrity and avoid compromising positions,” she stated.

Transitioning to the corporate, digital space

In the second presentation on “navigating the realities of journalism practice and how to transition from the newsroom to the corporate world”, Njie Enow Ebai provided a roadmap for moving from traditional newsrooms to the corporate world. 

He stressed that a journalist’s reputation begins during their internship. 

“Get a beat; that is where the transition starts,” Ebai noted, adding that consistency is the key to building a brand. 

“The more you write, the more people hear about you, and the more you build a reputation,” Ebai added. 

In an era where traditional media outlets face sustainability challenges, Ebai called on participants to embrace digital platforms. 

He recommended platforms such as Muck Rack and PayDesk to expand their reach beyond national borders. 

“Besides pitching, angling matters. Know the platform you are writing for and understand your audience,” he emphasised.

Ebai also urged the students to be persistent and never give up.  He reminded that in the course of their careers, “bad, terrible and crazy days” will come but stated that staying focused remains key.

Enter participants 

One of the participants, Alvin Nyamdi, a recent graduate of the University of Buea, said: “I have learned that using one’s weaknesses as a propeller to success is vital. Once you identify these gaps, you can fill them and meet your goals”.

Similarly, Chelsea Francis Teghen, a final year student at the University of Bamenda, described the session as a confidence booster. 

“I have always wanted to be a journalist, and attending this training today is just a reminder that I can become the person I want to be,” Teghen said. 

She added that: “As I leave today, I am going out there to strive better, work with discipline, integrity, determination and I am going out there to teach my community.”

Bridging knowledge gap

According to Giyo Ndzi, Co-Founder of Camer Today, the initiative was born out of a need to address the “knowledge gap” in Cameroon’s media ecosystem. 

“If we want to build an ideal ecosystem, we need to start from the base,” Ndzi explained. He highlighted the goal of making newsrooms safer and more welcoming for female reporters and young journalists over the next decade.

“In the next five or ten years, we are going to have not just amazing journalists both male and female, but create a livable experience for journalists in the media ecosystem,” Ndzi said.

Bizel-Bi Mafor, Head of Development and Training at CTNP, said the sessions are essential for easing the professional transition. 

“I hope they put this knowledge into practice and not just treat it as another training they attended,” she added.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3736 of Thursday March 19, 2026