Visionary Reports

The corona virus that has now taken the entire world hostage has changed daily routines and has made normal things now to look unusual. While it continues to spread with many getting hospitalized, the death toll keeps rising by the day, Cameroon journalism core has been hit hard by the corona virus. Reporting about the virus and at the same time keeping safe from the virus has become a daily dilemma for many a journalists in Cameroon. Cameroon journalists now battle with a credibility check, drying up of news sources and ICT use at work.

According to Oddette Chanji Akebegho, journalist and instructor, she is challenged by the fact that she can’t get to her news sources with ease. ’There are certain news sources I can’t reach out to because when I contact them, they will remind you of the physical/social distancing measure. Movement is difficult to and from the office. At times I work alone in the studio with no assistance from colleagues because few people have to come to work in a day. Field work also comes with fear “she says.

Army Banda, journalist and radio with the state broadcaster, CRTV, says she now survives as a journalist thanks to her knowledge on the use of ICT.”getting resource persons has become so difficult. I am now forced to use whatsApp  voice notes to be able to have resource persons on my programme. We do not have physical news conferences but virtual ones. My program action woman has been hit because I can’t displace myself to go interview my resource persons as well as I can’t  invite them to the radio house because of the fear of contamination”

The urge to serve the public, attain job satisfaction yet stay alive from the virus has become a dilemma that has left Jude Ntam torn  between passion and survival.”I like to go to the hospital and investigate on health issues. Now I can’t go because I’m afraid I might be exposed to the virus. I like community stories as well. I’m now forced to wear a mask that covers the mouth and nose and with the high temperatures, you can even lose your story angle while in the field”

Public Transport and Face Mask

Gilbert Nyongamsen Ndasi, journalist says getting to work via public transport because his media organ does not have a staff van makes him to be at risk of exposure”Public transport does not favour us. It’s always congested making  it difficult to get to work. One has to wait for longer periods to find a less congested taxi to get to work. Even at work, it’s difficult to get resource persons. The all prefer telephone calls. Imagine a one hour programme with a resource person on phone, it is expensive and my media organ can’t afford it.”

To Fonki Ndale Yanick, journalist and TV host, it’s difficult to have guest on TV.”I now attend fewer public events and i have limited panelists on my shows. Some guest I invite to my TV show insist they must put on their mask and since it always affects the sound quality, and we need better sound quality and may require otherwise, will make them to turn down appointments. We do not have resource persons now ‘ he said.

Just another burden..

The media environment in Cameroon is characterised by a media endowment where journalists work with little or no insurance coverage and social security, The rapid spread of Covid 19 in Cameroon and the daily challenge of reporting on the crisis have added to the burden of being a journalist in Cameroon, especially in the Anglophone regions. Journalists have been wallowing in reporting the Anglophone crisis in Cameroon with some arrested, detained and some losing their lives in the process. With the advent of this pandemic, news areas are limited and journalists now mostly Centre their stories on developments on COVID-19 since they now have less happenings, some offices have shut down while others have relocated. Now with Covid 19, the challenges keep increasing to Cameroon Journalist. This has actually stifled professionalism, respect for ethics, structural and physical development of media houses and journalists.

By Rose Akah Obah