The pace of change in the practice of journalism in these turbulent moments in the two anglophone regions of Cameroon is constantly accelerating. This change is reflected in the narrative shift. Indeed, I can conveniently state without fear of contradiction that every few days in our practice as journalists, there occurs a sharp transformation. Within a few couple of years, we all have re-arrange ourselves. Our view of the stalemate, our apprehension and comprehension of the ideals of peace, the values of peace, the thought of humanity, the protection of children and vulnerable persons in such difficult moments, the art of communicating for the betterment of mankind and his immediate environment. Communicating for a safe space for all. Few years ago, things were not how they are now. We are in a new world. Working to forge ahead. We are currently living through such transformation, thanks to the P.C.C Peace Office and its two components project, Peace Journalism and Conflict Transformation.
What has been taught to Journalists, what they have learned, how will they impact lives in the turbulent regions, who will carry the message of peace to the belligerent parties, all of these rhetoric will change as phase two of the project shines its beams of lights on humanity. Indeed, no other sector faces changes as radical as those that will transform mankind.
The second phase of the Peace Journalism and Conflict Transformation project of the P.C.C is promising to be more enriching than the first because it has mankind at its pivotal axis. How should journalists be responding to the various changes? Here I mean the shift in the narrative, from conventional reporting to a carved niche, peace journalism. As to what can be done to support them, the birth of the Cameroon Community Media Network, C.C.M.N, a platform of ideological exchanges, serves as a breeding ground for sustainable change as the journalists have been transformed to transform. The support has been in terms of capacity building, networking, productions and media campaigns.
What has been taught to Journalists, what they have learned, how will they impact lives in the turbulent regions, who will carry the message of peace to the belligerent parties, all of these rhetoric will change as phase two of the project shines its beams of lights on humanity. Indeed, no other sector faces changes as radical as those that will transform mankind.
The second phase of the Peace Journalism and Conflict Transformation project of the P.C.C is promising to be more enriching than the first because it has mankind at its pivotal axis. How should journalists be responding to the various changes? Here I mean the shift in the narrative, from conventional reporting to a carved niche, peace journalism. As to what can be done to support them, the birth of the Cameroon Community Media Network, C.C.M.N, a platform of ideological exchanges, serves as a breeding ground for sustainable change as the journalists have been transformed to transform. The support has been in terms of capacity building, networking, productions and media campaigns.
MEDIA RESPONSES
Journalists are already exploring solutions for a changing society as they tell the stories and plight of Internally Displaced Persons, Women and girls in displaced camps, the situation of vulnerable persons. Some of the approaches are broadly categorized as follows:
- Increasing the emphasis on peace building.
- Re-aligning journalists to be peace crusaders.
- Assessing the implications of the new technologies.
- reappraising patterns of reporting.
Journalism stands at a cross-roads. One of the ways in which some journalists are dealing with this is their networking and involvement in media networks such as C.C.M.N, in executing the P.C.C peace journalism and conflict transformation project. The project has launched its second phase with a call for journalists to pay particular attention to the fate of Children, Persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons and humanitarian activities.
The successes for the second phase and the project as a whole would be possible through research into innovative practices on the part of the journalists, dissemination of best practices and a motivational stipend to media houses that broadcast the various productions.
The second phase for sure is going to be rich in experience as journalists were called to practice journalism of integrity. Rev. Nta William, the National Peace Coordinator, prescribed efficiency in productions so as reach out to many and impact lives. “The second phase is targeting another domain which is the humanitarian aspect, a lot of things were done for the first phase which did not really factor in the aspect of the humanitarian action. Go out and act let society feel it.” He said before adding;
“Each project has its goal which to us is to deescalate the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West regions, to build peace as a culture in Cameroon and we do hope that at the end of this, there would be better outcome which will reflect the output through the indicators and the impact should be felt within the society, within Cameroon, that Cameroonians can start building peace and as well change without necessary using violence, when people speak in love and become transformers and not destructive language and that there can be change even in the way journalist report, shifting to hope journalism.”
By Stephen Ojang
The successes for the second phase and the project as a whole would be possible through research into innovative practices on the part of the journalists, dissemination of best practices and a motivational stipend to media houses that broadcast the various productions.
The second phase for sure is going to be rich in experience as journalists were called to practice journalism of integrity. Rev. Nta William, the National Peace Coordinator, prescribed efficiency in productions so as reach out to many and impact lives. “The second phase is targeting another domain which is the humanitarian aspect, a lot of things were done for the first phase which did not really factor in the aspect of the humanitarian action. Go out and act let society feel it.” He said before adding;
“Each project has its goal which to us is to deescalate the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West regions, to build peace as a culture in Cameroon and we do hope that at the end of this, there would be better outcome which will reflect the output through the indicators and the impact should be felt within the society, within Cameroon, that Cameroonians can start building peace and as well change without necessary using violence, when people speak in love and become transformers and not destructive language and that there can be change even in the way journalist report, shifting to hope journalism.”
By Stephen Ojang
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