On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, a powerful and stinging critique of the Cameroonian media landscape has reignited debate over the role and integrity of journalism in the country.
In an article published on May 4, 2025, journalist Venant Mboua reflects on the transformation of Cameroonian media—from pillars of democracy to, as he describes, mere trading posts for political and personal interests.
Mboua’s commentary comes at a moment of rising frustration with how news outlets cover political opposition figures, particularly Maurice Kamto, whose appearance on recent front pages sparked outrage from figures like Jean Emmanuel Ateba.
Their criticisms point to what many see as the erosion of journalistic ethics in a media ecosystem plagued by partisanship and profit-driven agendas.
“The press that once carried the forces of change in the 1990s has become a vast marketplace,” Mboua laments.
He pays tribute to pioneering journalists like Pius Njawé, Edouard Kingue, Benjamin Zebaze, Séverin Tchounkeu, and Nyemb Popol—figures who, in his view, embodied the courage and commitment of a press once willing to challenge autocratic power.
Today, however, Mboua argues that media institutions have strayed far from their founding principles. “They no longer educate people about commitment to the country,” he writes.
“They have become platforms for promoting individuals and spreading propaganda.”
Print journalism, he notes, is gasping under the weight of repressive policies, while radio and television—dominated by debate programming—have devolved into partisan echo chambers.
Instead of facilitating informed discourse, they often amplify divisions and foster sensationalism.
Despite the bleak diagnosis, Mboua insists that all is not lost.
He calls on ethical journalists and media professionals to take a hard look at their responsibilities and reclaim the press’s role as a force for accountability, truth, and national integrity.
“Have the media lost their independence and objectivity?”
he asks. “Are journalists free to do their work without pressure or censorship?
Are the media being used to promote democracy and transparency, or have they become tools of crude manipulation and propaganda?”
As Cameroon reflects on its press freedom, Mboua’s words strike a chord that resonates far beyond the country’s borders. His message is clear: the power of the press lies not in access to headlines, but in the courage to serve the public good.
“I wish you peace,” he concludes—an understated but poignant reminder of the stakes involved in the battle for a free and principled press.
