Media of Cameroon

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The media of Cameroon is controlled by the government.[citation needed]

Cameroon's media includes print publications that are both public and privately owned; a public television station and privately owned channels; radio stations that are public, privately owned, and foreign, and the Internet.

Freedom of Speech

The constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but in practise the threat of government censorship generally prevents opposition viewpoints from appearing in print, especially in the government-controlled press.

Censorship and harassment of journalists is common in Cameroon. The government has been implicated in recent efforts to block access to Twitter within the country.[1] Newspaper editor Raphaël Nkamtcheun was detained for receiving allegedly confidential government documents from former finance minister Polycarpe Abah Abah when he visited Abah in Yaoundé prison on February 17, 2011, an incident that Reporters Without Borders condemned as arbitrary intimidation.[2] "Cameroun Express" editor Ngota Ngota Germain (aka Bibi Ngota) died in Yaoundé’s Kondengui Central Prison on April 22, 2011, an incident opponents cite as government intimidation;[3] other reporters subject to arrest and incarceration without being charged include editors Serge Sabouang of the bimonthly "La Nation" and Robert Mintya of the weekly "Le Devoir"[4]

In 2009, the freedom of the press global classification released each year by Reporters Without Borders ranked Cameroon 109 out of 175 countries.[5] "Sensitive issues" were reported there.[6]

88 proposals to create private radio and television services are under examination by the Minister of Communication.

Print media

Most Cameroonian publications are issued irregularly and have small circulations. The majority are published in French, but some appear in Bulu, Duala, and other native languages of Cameroon. The major daily is the Cameroon Tribune, the official government newspaper, published in French in Yaoundé, with a weekly English-language edition; circulation was 66,000 in French and 20,000 in English as of 2002. There are 40 to 50 private newspapers, most of which are published sporadically.

Cameroon's print media includes several publications, including the following:

Public

  • Journal officiel de la République du Cameroun: a publication announcing the publication of laws
  • Cameroon Tribune: Official national daily, published bilingually in French and English

Privately owned

  • Cameroon Weekly (Cameroun)Weekly best selling private newspaper
  • Le Messager
  • Mutations (Cameroun)
  • "La Nouvelle Expression": includes an online edition
  • "The Herald": English, includes an online edition
  • "The Post": English, includes an online edition
  • Le Popoli: A humour newspaper
  • "La Voix du paysan"
  • "La Nouvelle Tribune": Weekly, economic and financial news
  • "Le Jour"
  • "Dikalo"
  • "Eden Newspaper"
  • "Guardian Post"
  • "The Star Newspaper"
  • "The Sun Newspaper"

Radio and Television

In 1987 Cameroon’s radio and television networks were merged to form the Office de Radiodiffusion–Télévision Camerounaise (CRTV), which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Culture. There are broadcasting stations at Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, Buea, Bertoua, Bamenda, and Bafoussam, offering programs in French, English, and many African languages. In 2004, there were about 20 privately owned radio stations operating in the country; however, these were not officially licensed. The state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) is the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster in the country.

In 2003, there were an estimated 161 radios and 75 television sets for every 1,000 people.

Television

Public

  • CRTV Télé: maintains a Website

Privately owned

Radio

Public

Cameroon has several public radio stations, regulated by the Radio de l'office national de radio et télévision (CRTV).

  • The national station, transmitting from Yaoundé,
  • Ten provincial radio stations,

Privately owned

International

  • BBC World Service: English, with some broadcasts in French
  • RFI : French, with some broadcasts in English and Spanish

It is also possible to receive Canal+ Horizons.

Telecommunications

The telecommunications network has been improving over the years. It is still inadequate by international standards; the fixed line infrastructure, owned by the monopoly fixed-line service provider Camtel, has outdated equipment and service in the country is irregular. Only 1 out of every 100 Cameroonians has a fixed-line telephone.

An automatic telephone exchange system links all important cities and towns. Cable, telegram, and telex services connect Cameroon to the outside world. In January 1974, a satellite telecommunications earth station was inaugurated, greatly improving the quality of Cameroon’s international telephone service. However, service is still limited to mostly business and government use.

As of 2009, there are approximately 40 mobile telephone subscribers for every 100 people in Cameroon.[7]

Internet

In 2003, there were 5.7 personal computers for every 1,000 people and 4 of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet. There were three secure Internet servers in the country in 2004.

See also

References

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  5. ↑ Reporters sans frontières  : Classement mondial 2009 [1]
  6. ↑ Reporters sans frontières
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Further reading

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