Visionary Reports

During a press luncheon in Douala on August 27, media practitioners from the Littoral, Northwest, Southwest, and Centre regions were urged to ensure fair and balanced reporting ahead of the October 12 Presidential Election. This gathering brought together managers from both private and public media, highlighting the media’s crucial role in democratic life, especially during elections. As information custodians and dialogue promoters, it is essential for media professionals to provide citizens with accurate information, free from disinformation, hate speech, and incitement to division.Addressing the press, Joseph Chebonkeng Kalabubse, president of the National Communication Council (NCC), emphasized the importance of the pre-election phase in establishing a framework of trust and regulation. The NCC aims to ensure that all media operate in a clear, regulated environment that fosters fair coverage. To this end, they have proactively defined and communicated specific guidelines for election-related media coverage. These guidelines cover aspects such as allocating broadcast time for candidates, maintaining neutral reporting, prohibiting harmful remarks, and distinguishing between reporting, commentary, and political propaganda.

Kalabubse stated, “In the event of a proven and documented offense, the NCC is empowered to take proportionate, legally compliant measures, ranging from a warning to severe sanctions, including the temporary suspension of a journalist, program, or even a media outlet, depending on the offense’s seriousness.”As the pre-electoral period commences, the NCC will intensify its monitoring of all media platforms—print, radio, television, and digital—to proactively detect any breaches of the established directives. This includes monitoring for hate speech, fake news, and incitement to violence, as well as ensuring balanced representation of political actors. The NCC has mobilized teams for continuous monitoring, covering campaign activities, voting operations, result announcements, and any statements that could influence electoral conduct.Moreover, during the presidential election campaign on October 12, 2025, the NCC will suspend all political programs not explicitly designated as official campaign programs. This measure aims to ensure fair treatment and better traceability of political messages, urging media outlets to produce clearly identified and regulated campaign broadcasts.The NCC has also developed a bilingual handbook for journalists to promote awareness of legal requirements pertinent to their profession. This handbook will be distributed nationwide in the coming days. Additionally, effective mechanisms for the prompt reception and handling of complaints from political parties and other stakeholders have been established, ensuring that every report of a professional breach or regulatory violation is examined with diligence.

By Gina Esong