Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe.
– Abraham Lincoln
Africa
Cameroon
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| IREX Score: 1.77 | [IREX Methodology] |
| {Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00} |
IREX Description:
Corruption is a pervasive theme across the country. In 2009, Transparency International ranked Cameroon 146 out of 180 countries, and unfortunately, the media have not been untouched by this poisonous climate. However, Cameroonian media do enjoy relative freedom of speech. In particular, the media's plurality and freedom of tone testify to such a breathing space. For many Cameroonians, the main accomplishment of President Biya's 27-year rule is precisely the freedom of speech that Cameroonians enjoy in general. However, that freedom can go only so far when the knowledge that press offenses are punishable under the criminal law—subject to the whims of a judicial system not known for independence—looms large above journalists' heads. Journalists also continue to lament the lack of legislation to support access to information; without such assurances, private media are at a particular disadvantage.
Overall, the Cameroonian press shows many shortcomings and weaknesses in multiple areas. Furthermore, the private media are affected disproportionately by poor working conditions stemming from the lack of resources, the weak advertising industry, and preferential treatment for state media. Other obstacles to more sustainable private media outlets include poor professional standards, limited training opportunities, disorganization, and poor management practices. Given this state of affairs, many MSI panelists called for greater regulation and self-regulation of the media.
| Freedom House Score: 67 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
Freedom House Description:
- Despite constitutional guarantees, freedom of the press is restricted in Angola.
- Libel of the president or his representatives remains a criminal offense, punishable by high fines and imprisonment. The Law on State Secrecy permits the government to classify information, at times unnecessarily, and prosecute those who publish it.
- Private media are often denied access to official information and events. Foreign journalists are able to operate with fewer government restrictions than their local counterparts.
Read more on Freedom House’s site…
| RSF Score: 44.30 | [RSF Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120} |
Reporters Without Borders Description:
Cameroon’s media appears outspoken but those journalists who bravely try to get round the country’s social communication law come under pressure. Although administrative and official censorship was abolished about 15 years ago, media offences are still heavily-punished crimes and a libellous article can still send its author or publisher to prison, as in the case of Lewis Medjo (of La Détente Libre), who has been in Douala prison since September 2008 serving a three-year sentence after being found guilty of "spreading false news".
A dozen journalists were legally harassed between 2007 and 2009 for their reporting. Though the government has eased the pressure a little to improve its image with aid donors, it still aggressively monitors the media, which cannot freely discuss numerous topics, especially the army, corruption and secessionist activity in the English-speaking part of the country.
| Committee to Protect Journalists Description: | [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?] |
Top Developments
• Authorities unleash reprisals when journalists question oil company deal.
• Nation mourns the death of pioneering journalist Pius Njawé.
Key Statistic
4: Journalists jailed for leaked document. One dies in custody, a second alleges he was tortured.
When four newspaper journalists jointly sent questions to a top presidential adviser in late 2009, they hoped to learn more about alleged misuse of state oil company funds. Instead, they set off virulent government reprisals beginning in February that left one editor dead, another alleging he was tortured in state custody, and two others imprisoned for nine months. The case, the worst press freedom abuse in Cameroon in at least a decade, highlighted the brutal intimidation meted out by powerful public figures against journalists scrutinizing their activities.
Visit CPJ’s Site for Recent Developments in this Country
| IFEX News: | [What is IFEX?] |
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