DO NOT TREAT US AS UNDERDOGS AND BEGGERS----NW CAMASEJ PRESIDENT!

The North West chapter of Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalist (CAMASEJ) have launched a weeklong activities culminating to the commemoration of the 2015 edition of the press freedom day. This was during a press briefing Monday April 27^th at Blue Pearl Hotel Bamenda.

Speaking at the event, CAMASEJ president, NW chapter Rosaline Obah enjoined colleagues to stamp out” Ngombo” journalism, say no to influence peddling by egoistic politicians and deceased from trading news with alcohol, a common practice that have gain prominence amongst the press core in Bamenda and embrace a new era of reporting. In a strong worded press statement to members and none members of the association, Rosaline Obah expanding on the theme of this year’s world press freedom which is, let journalism thrives! Towards better reporting, gender equality and media safety in this digital age, she said” it is time we ponder over the changing influence of commercialisation and concentration of ownership which impacts on the independence and quality of today’s journalism” adding that after the Beijing declaration for action in 1995, with some of its goals to increase the participation of and access of women in decision making especially through the media, twenty years on some  obstacles like the imbalance access to information and the underrepresentation of women in very daring areas of the profession still persist with fewer male colleagues involved in gender reporting not leaving out violence against female journalist and women as a whole.

To the government, Rosaline Obah, called on the Cameroon government and other public authorities to give journalist practicing in Bamenda and Cameroon as a whole to give all practicing journalist the right and equal access to information regretting the poor treatment meted to journalist as they hunt for news.” we regret the mistreatment of our colleagues at state events, do not treat us as under dogs and beggars”.

It was also an occasion for the CAMASEJ president to present a radio drama on press freedom dubbed the TRUTH to be aired by radio stations in Bamenda, she announced a series of events culminating to the press freedom day in Bamenda to include amongst others: radio sensitisation talks on all radio stations in Bamenda by the executive and inspirational visits to schools and journalism training institutions in the Region one day workshop at the Muna Foundation in Mbengwi to empower journalist on some aspects of the profession like surviving economically in the profession, litigation and ethical issues. She added that the northwest press core will embark on a grand visit to Club Media Ouest-Bafousam and the final event on may 3^rd at blue pearl hotel which will see the installation of the North west Delegate of communication and the Associations chapter executives by the northwest governor Adolf Lele L”afrique.

The United Nations general assembly declared May 3^rd to be world press freedom day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under article 19 of the 1948 Declaration of Human Rights.

Created in i1992, CAMASEJ seeks to defend and uphold the code of ethics guiding journalists as well as inculcating values of virtue binding the profession and members.