In a column published by News du Cameroun, Yerima Kini Nsom laments that Cameroonian journalism is, in his opinion, straying from its fundamental mission of truth and defending citizens. The article opens with a scene in Yaoundé, where citizens criticize both the rise in fuel prices and the complacency of certain media outlets towards this government decision.
Nsom denounces a press that, instead of investigating and informing critically, simply relays official propaganda. He regrets the disappearance of the traditional journalistic angle, favoring impact and public interest, in favor of half-truths and clichés. Some media outlets are even accused of pro-government activism, raising the question of whether journalism has betrayed its primary vocation.
The author questions the ability of a press that denies its very essence to survive: intellectual rigor, solid argumentation, and the confrontation of ideas. He criticizes the insidious influence of institutions that set themselves up as arbiters of journalistic "good taste," leading to self-censorship and the disappearance of substantive debates.
Nsom points out that information is increasingly dictated by financial interests, to the detriment of the public interest. He cites the coverage of the presidential election in October 2025, where the emphasis was placed on personalities and financial stakes rather than on the programs offered to Cameroonians.
The article mentions the economic difficulties encountered by journalists, often used to justify the lack of objectivity. However, Nsom insists on the primacy of professionalism, the only guarantee of the long-term viability of journalism. The precarious security situation for journalists, particularly in the conflict-ridden English-speaking regions, exacerbates these difficulties. In 2023, Cameroon ranked 138th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index.
Cameroon experienced a liberalization of its media landscape in the 1990s, but the government retains considerable influence through regulations and indirect controls. The absence of a law on access to information also hinders the work of journalists.
Despite these challenges, Cameroonian journalists continue to fight for ethical and independent journalism. They call for a revitalization of regulatory structures and the adoption of laws protecting freedom of information.
"Responsible journalism," according to Nsom, should not be a euphemism for simply reproducing official propaganda. The future of journalism in Cameroon depends on its ability to regain its role as a watchdog of power and a voice for the voiceless.
