A two-day seminar ended in Yaounde on February 25, 2016 with a clarion call for journalists to show patriotism, professionalism and social responsibility in treating information.

Journalists of the public and private media organs in Cameroon have been equipped with skills to better manage information in times of war. For two-days (February 24-25, 2016), media men and women gathered in Yaounde in a workshop organised by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Ministry of Communication and the National Communication Council, under the theme “Management of Information in Times of War”.

The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defence, Joseph Beti Assomo closed the workshop in the presence of Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the President of the National Communication Council, Peter Essoka and a host of top ranking military officials. Far reaching recommendations were arrived at in the workshop that had as objective to form a synergy between actors of information management on the one hand and the ministry of Defence on the other, on republican values such as unity, national solidarity and the protection of territorial integrity especially at a time the country is faced with Boko Haram attacks in the Far North and repeated Central African Republic rebels aggressions in the East Region.

Three important recommendations summed up deliberations notably the need for journalists to show patriotism, professionalism and social responsibility in handling information in times of war. Participants also suggested that legislative reforms on the protection of journalists’ rights’ and a law defining specific rights and obligations of journalists in times of war be passed.  

Regular information from the war front, a 24-hour communication unit at the Ministry of Defence, multiple field trips to the war front by journalists’ amongst others were also some of the recommendations. With all these, the media is expected to mobilise the population for the support of the Army, preservation and promotion of Cameroon’s image. Thus, the responsibility of journalists first as citizens is more incumbent in times of war.