Visionary Reports

Journalists in the Littoral Pledge their Support for the Growth of the Network in the region

The Cameroon Community Media Network- CCMN has been launched in the littoral region with a call for journalists to promote peace through reporting. The over 30 journalists present at the event that took place recently in Douala,  listened to presentations on Peace Journalism, Non Violent communication and a vivid explanation on what CCMN is all about. During her presentation, the National Coordinator of CCMN Madam Rosaline Akah Obah sounded off that CCMN  has as mission to empower and support media organs in the promotion of peace journalism which influences the design and development of effective communication of development and humanitarian strategies to reduce knowledge and development gaps in Cameroon. To her, the network is based on trust, openness and democracy.  “It is first a network of media organs and Civil Society Organisations brought together by a common concern for promoting peace journalism. The network acts in terms of its own mandate and organizational aims and objectives so do its members” she explained.  Madam Rosaline Akah Obah also took time off to explain the modalities of becoming a member.

 On her part, the regional coordinator of CCMN Littoral Madam Regina Liengu Etaka Esong urged the journalism family in the region to join the network so as to help in the contribution of  peace. In her words “As peace journalists we can change the narrative and promote peace through our reporting. We must objectively report the news instead of creating or becoming the news. The ethics of our profession demands this. Let us be objective, neutral and stick to the facts. Let us use our power, the power of the fourth estate to bring about peace.  We are not saying you should not question, or not be wary. What we are saying is that your questions should be to seek the truth and report the facts in other to build and not to destroy”.

 It was an opportunity for Madam Regina Liengu Etaka Esong to remind journalists of the Littoral region that CCMN will be focusing on refresher workshops on the ethics of   the journalism profession. She also urged journalists to report in other to promote development. “Our community media are a powerful tool, as they use the languages that the people best understand. We should be able to understand the culture and beliefs of the people to carve out messages and reports that will meet the needs of the people” she added.

It should be recalled that before now, the CCMN had only two chapters:  The North West and West Region grouped into one chapter while Littoral and the South West Regions were also combined as a chapter. Because of the positive results recorded and the constant quest for peace, CCMN management extended the net work to six regions including   South West, North West, West, Littoral, Grand North and Centre.  This decision was arrived at on December 6, 2019 in Buea.

The CCMN is a brain child of the Presbyterian church in Cameroon in partnership with Bread For The World and ZFD.

GINA ESONG