Reporting elections:

Media practitioners schooled on peace journalism

By Doh Bertrand Nua and Boris Esono

Journalists in Kumba in Meme Division have been urged to bear in mind the importance of peace preservation when covering elections. The call was made on Wednesday, 26 July, by Prof. Steven Youngblood, Director of the Center for Global Peace Journalism, who doubles as editor of The Peace Journalism Magazine. 

                He was speaking at a one day seminar to train journalists in Kumba on peace and electoral journalism. Youngblood underscored the importance of fact-oriented, peace-oriented, people-oriented and solution-oriented journalism as a means of good elections coverage.

                Prof. Youngblood also edified media men on their choice of language when reporting elections and how they can keep away their news media and they themselves from efforts by political elite to compromise their editorial lines for purposes of scores-settling.

                He revealed that from the exchanges he had with journalists on the field, Cameroon seems to be a difficult media environment for effective journalism practice. But he at once expressed the hope and optimism that after such exchanges journalists here can be able to start adhering to the global principles that govern peace journalism practice. 

Before coming to Kumba, Prof. Youngblood and his team had been to other towns including Yaounde, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Mamfe, Limbe and Buea. 

                On her part, the president of the Cameroon community media network, Madam Forban Geraldine, who also doubles as the station manager to CBS radio Buea, said Prof. Steven Youngblood was invited to edify journalists on election reporting so as to prepare for the multiple elections in 2018. 

                Quizzed whether peace journalism can be effectively practiced in the country despite the current socio-political tension, Geraldine said she is convinced journalists can live up to their task in spite of the difficult working terrain.

Prof. Steven Youngblood is a writer, peace journalism instructor and Director of the Center for Peace Journalism at Park University in Parkville, MO, USA. He is also the communications professor at Park University