Press Card: An Insurmountable Barrier?
By Akere Maimo in Yaounde
On January 25, 2007, members of the commission in charge of issuing press cards met in Yaounde to examine the application files sent in by media persons practising Journalism in Cameroon. The commission was chaired by its President, Sam Ekoka Ewange. A sprinkling of Cameroon journalists were present to be enlightened on the modalities of obtaining the press cards. Working under the watchful eyes of the Ministry of Communication, the commission is attempting to infuse sanity in a profession that has so far been treated with contempt and flooded by charlatans. Though a laudable initiative, it has so far met with some resistance and grimace.
Mr. Francis Wache, the publisher of The Post Newspaper was very clear when he spoke to the media. According to him, a press card is very useful but for one thing, it comes to regulate the profession and set standards to be respected by those involved in the profession, however he asked, “who is competent to determine who is a journalist in Cameroon?”
Besides, there is another worry – that of how to obtain the cards. It is not only limited at the level of defining who a journalist is, but the way the cards are issued. Strangely, news is reaching us that some less qualified journalists are already brandishing the press cards, rendering the whole exercise phoney. A trained journalist working for a local radio house in Yaoundé, while talking to CRTV national radio, claims he does not understand how somebody with a professional diploma, is still compelled to spend 10,000 FCFA (US$ 20) every 2 years to practise journalism in his own country.
Sampling the opinions of some friends of the private press, The Entrepreneur Newspaper came up with some baffling revelations. Many of them said that the issue of the press card is just like any of the fabulous projects that government embarks on. An idea if not well managed is killed the very moment it is hatched. They seem not to see the need of the press card as it is no guarantee for having access to information as they still rely on network and ‘friends’ in high places for news facts. As to other ancillary benefits that may come with the press cards in terms of cheap hotel accommodation and subsidised telephone services, some declared “that is a ‘bigman’ talk – sweet talking us into thinking that all is roses. We need better things. We need better working conditions. If our status can be upgraded to the level of our colleagues of the public media, it would be better”.
According to Mr. Asong Ndifor, the publisher of The Nation Magazine and member of the press card commission, journalists have every reason to rejoice. He highlighted the conditions required to acquire the press cards. “The conditions are there. If you have the qualifications as a journalist or you work effectively as a journalist, then you are legible for the press card. If you don’t have professional training and you have been working constantly as a journalist for at least two years, you are qualified for a press card. As for those who are technicians; they don’t have a press card. They have an accreditation, hence an auxiliary to the press. There are of two kinds: press cards and cards for photographers, technicians and so on,” Mr. Asong declared.
By and large, the idea of issuing press cards can be lofty one, especially if the commission is serious, fair and transparent. In countries like the UK and to some extent in next-door Nigeria, press cards are issued by trade unions, organisations of journalists and not by the government. Nonetheless, the commission must be serious so as to lend weight to the press cards.
© The Entrepreneur Newspaper 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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