Let’s tell the stories of ordinary people caught in NW/SW conflict, SNJC NW tells South colleagues

A delegation of Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union CJTU/SNJC NW chapter visiting their colleagues in the South Region say reporters must go beyond government positions in covering the over two years old armed conflicts eating up Cameroon from the NW and SW by telling the stories of ordinary civilians affected by violence.

CJTU/SNJC NW made the request during an interactive session with colleagues of the South in Ebolowa as part of a two days working and friendly that also gave room for reflections on what contributions journalists can make to end the crisis from Feb 21-22.

Responding to questions on usual difficulties faced by journalists covering conflicts based on her personal experiences in the NW region, the visiting NW delegation said among the recurring problems is getting the narratives of sources other than those coming from the military, police, local government units, other government agencies, and the armed groups involved.

According to the NW delegation, there is the fear that many colleagues not living in the affected regions are ignoring the voice of innocent people caught up in the conflict just like other stakeholders, community leaders, religious groups, women, youth and all other sectors. The temptation the delegation insisted during the visit is for the press to just be loudspeakers of the government, military, police or armed group.

From the South Regional Delegation of Communication, to the South Regional Governor’s office and the office of the Divisional Officer for Ebolowa I, the visiting delegation expressed the need for government to continuously provide a conducive for journalism to thrive as a key to democracy, fight against corruption, development and peace building.