Visionary Reports

Officials of the national and   regional coordination units were installed at the end of a five day strategic workshop that took place in Buea.

The Cameroon Community Media Net Work –CCMN has extended its tentacles to six more regions bringing its chapters to eight in Cameroon.  Before now CCMN was based only in the North West and South West regions, as a result of the success registered the project has now been extended to the Littoral, Centre, West, Far North, North and Adamaoua regions with major aim to encourage journalists to promote peace through reporting. The new chapters were put in place at the end of a five day strategic workshop to train trainers on peace journalism related aspects.

 The training of trainers workshop that took place in Buea from the 2- 6 of December 2019 was aimed at training trainers who will in turn go back to their respective regions  to promote peace through journalism. The five day workshop organizes by the Cameroon Community Media Network brought together over 25 media practitioners. The workshop under the theme “Future challenges for the Community Media Sector and  the CCMN in Cameroon”  was also aimed at establishing other chapters of the CCMN.

 While opening the Workshop on December 2, the Presbyterian Communication Secretary   and head of the PCC Peace Project, Rev. Mokoko Mbue Thomas said the media has a major role to play in times of crisis. He said the media has the ability and power to make or mar and as journalists it is time to change the tides through  reporting so as to bring back peace, Rev Mokoko emphasized, that Cameroon is faced with security challenges with the Boko Haram insurgence in the Far North, the crisis in the North West and South west regions which  greatly affects all parts of the country. He said things may get worst if care is not taken consequently he reminded  the media practitioners on their cardinal role in bringing back peace. 

In to the workshop, resource persons like Roseline Akah Obah CCMN Regional Coordinator for the North West, Rev Geraldine Fobang CCMN Regional Coordinator for the South West,  Alexender Vojvoda –CCMN project consultant , Kiven Frankilne of UN OCHA all drilled the participants on  topics like “ Introduction to Non Violent Communication” Peace Journalism”, “Conflict Sensitive Reporting”, “Humanitarian Reporting”, “ Community Media in Conflict Situation” just to name a few.

 Panel discussions with seasoned panelists were all veritable platforms to train journalists on issues on community media and its role in conflict situation, challenges for reporting humanitarian crisis and reporting the MDGs.

Meanwhile the new national Coordination unit that was put in place is made up of ;  Roseline Akah Obah  National Coordinator, Kum Leonard National Communication and Public Relation officer , Mariama  Njayou  Project Officer and Rakiatu Makingi finance officer.

It should be recalled that the CCMN is the direct beneficiary of a project sponsored by Bread for the World , ZFD  in partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Cameron under the peace project.

BY GINA ESONG