A new journalism body, christened Association of Cultural Journalists (ACJ) has seen the light of day in the N.W region of Cameroon. This was at the end of a Half-Yearly Follow Up Workshop for Journalists of Radio, TV, Print Media and Bloggers on Reporting on Cultural Journalism that recently took place in Bamenda on the 25th and 26th of September 2019 organised by the Mbororo Social, Cultural and Development Association (MBOSCUDA) in collaboration with the North West Farmer's Organisation (NOWEFOR), funded by the European Union through United Purpose based in the United Kingdom.
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| ACJ N.W Pioneer EXCO |
In the Month of May 2019, MBOSCUDA carried out a Training and Sensitisation Workshop for Journalists on Cultural Diversity and Cultural Rights Issues in Bamenda with objective to strengthen the capacity of media houses in order to raise more awareness and understanding of cultural diversity and cultural rights as stipulated by the international (UNESCO Convention) and national instruments ( Cameroon Government Initiatives/Policies).
As a follow up measure to ensure the knowledge passed across and gained doesn't end in vain, a network of cultural journalists in the North West Region was formed and on the 21st of June 2019, its maiden General Assembly was held during which its official name and bylaws were adopted.
Four months after, MBOSCUDA once more rallied the earlier on trained journalists to evaluate the distance covered after the initial training with interest on work done, challenges faced, work still to be done and way forward. The follow up workshop was facilitated by Mr. Nji Charles, a journalism consultant who evaluated the output of the journalists ever since their training and ranked their performance at 90%, considering the peculiarities of the region amidst the ongoing Anglophone Crisis after personally monitoring what they reported on radio, TV, newspapers and blogs about cultural journalism.
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| Participants at Follow Up Workshop |
This was corroborated by Sali Usmamu, the MBOSCUDA Monitoring and Evaluation officer who expressed satisfaction with the turnout and participation of members. Accessing the work done, he said "Most of them have taken some steps towards incorporating intercultural dialogue in their discussions and programs as there are now interesting elements of culture which are becoming very eminent in their programs and reports." He then ended by letting the participants know that though sustainability is very important, every project has a lifespan. Sali Usmamu assured participants that MBOSCUDA after terminating the Bridging the Gap project will not end its cordial relationship with the media in the region. Considering the importance of communication in development, subsequent projects of the association will still involve the media in their implementation.
At the end, an elective General Assembly of the earlier on formed network was held during which a pioneer Executive Council of the Association of Cultural Journalists (ACJ), N.W was democratically voted into office headed by Abongwa Fozo of City FM and Fawah Agatha of Abakwa FM as Vice President. Other members of the council included Nji Ignatius of Eden Newspaper as Secretary General, Mokom Thomas of Ndefcam Radio as Vice S.G, Philo Happi of Eden Newspaper as Financial Secretary, Ninpa Francis of Radio Hot Cocoa as Treasurer and Gnoukapasi Martial of Afrique Nouvelle Radio as Public Relations Officer. Wanchia Cynthia of MBOSCUDA Communication Unit and Jeff Ngawe of The Reporter Newspaper were tasked the responsibility of being advisers of the EXCO.
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| Abongwa Fozo, ACJ N.W President |
On behalf of MBOSCUDA, members of the newly elected maiden bureau of the association were immediately installed into their various functions by Sali Usmanu who first expressed satisfaction with the gender consideration of the team before cautioning them that "leadership begins with yourself." He then congratulated the elected members for the confidence bestowed unto them by their peers while promising that MBOSCUDA will always be available to lend a helping hand for the betterment of the newly formed journalism association in the region.
Legalisation modalities of the association are soon to be completed after which the body shall effectively commence work, that of upholding the practice of cultural journalism reporting and sourcing for funding for cultural journalism practices especially from international bodies like UNESCO.
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