Meme journalists drilled on ethics

By Johnson Mbu in Kumba
The Vice president of the National Communication council (NCC) Peter Essoka has said that good journalists are dedicated and truthful; they report facts and not rumours.
    He was speaking during a one day workshop organised by the Meme delegate of communication that took place at the conference room of the Kumba city council on Wednesday 13 May 2015. 
    The workshop, was also addressed by the Meme delegate of communication, Mbu Cynthia Molua, who said the workshop was organised to empower media practitioners on free and balanced reporting and not to lay blame at the footsteps of anyone. 
    In his unscripted sermon on the occasion, Peter Esoka said the NCC is autonomous; it is neither an appendage of the Ministry of communication nor does it take orders from anybody.
    Essoka said the NCC has powers to summon even the minister of communication. 
    He continued that the sanctions meted out by the NCC on erring media organs are not aimed to destroy but to correct.  "The sanctions are even pedagogical," he said. 
    He called on journalists to treat other human beings like themselves and to ensure not to run down the reputation of others, adding that before reporting or publishing any information, journalists should check and cross check their sources and if in doubt they should drop the story.
 
     Essoka said journalists are noblemen and noble women, but regretted that their neutrality and dignity has been compromised by bad reporting of the news and the distortion of facts. 
    He said in order for journalist to regain their lost dignity, there is the need for training. "Seventy percent of persons, who pass as journalists in Cameroon are not trained, only 30% are trained, of the 30% trained only 15% do their job well" he further added. 
    Peter Esoka also mentioned the issuance of the National professional cards, licences and that the (NCC) is considering instituting the "Prize of Excellence" for those who work well. 
Charles Ndi Chia, the Editor In Chief of the post Newspaper was another resource person.  His paper was titled "Ethical conduction, deontology and the making of a Good Journalist.”  Ethics, he explained has to do with: duty to the self and or duty to, and concern for others and that we do right or wrong by ourselves in that part of our lives lived, by inwardly or introvertedly and also in that of our lives where we are reacting and responding to other persons.  "This duality of individual and social morality is implicit in the very concept of ethics" he said, adding that the journalist for example is not simply writing for consumption of others; he is writing as self expression and he puts himself and his very being into his or her journalism.  "He pleases, or displeases himself, not just those in his or her audience".
    The workshop was also addressed by the Government Delegate to the Kumba City council, Victor Ngoh Nkele, the First Assistant Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Epolewane Verclin.