One of Cameroon’s most popular digital news media, Cameroon News Agency (CNA), today commemorates nine years of authoritative and independent journalism.
The media organisation was founded on Facebook on October 27, 2014, by former Equinoxe English News Editor, Nfor Hansen Nchanji.
Then as a young reporter, Mr Nchanji says his goal was to tell the stories of English-speaking Cameroonians.
Today, CNA prides itself on being the mirror of not just the English-speaking Regions, but of the entire Cameroonian society.
With a team of 13 staff, including three editors, CNA has been among the few media organs striving to give Cameroonians a voice amid a repressive media terrain.
The media organ has delivered compelling reports that have contributed to spotlighting the ongoing armed conflict in the English-speaking Regions. This role became most vital after the NRC ranked the crisis among the most underreported in the world.
Born just two years to the conflict, CNA has covered the socio-political upheavals relentlessly from the start.
In an editorial published today, CNA said its goal has been to “shape the narrative of what was happening”.
“We are resolute in telling the side of the Cameroonian story that often gets left out giving a voice not just to Anglophone Cameroonian audiences, but to all Cameroonians regardless of their linguistic or cultural backgrounds,” the media house wrote.
CNA has made significant progress over its nearly one decade of existence.
From just over two dozen subscribers on Facebook when it started, it now boasts of over 311,000 followers, with a thriving website.
The vision bearer, Nfor Hansen, says they have more in store for their readers.
On September 22 this year, he launched a sports page, CNA Sports, aimed at providing real-time sports updates.
They are also poised to launch three new special programs: Africa Today, Diaspora Diaries and a podcast, Society Deep.
Mr Nchanji, who is now based in Switzerland, says CNA has been tailoring its reporting to respond to the people’s needs.
In an interview broadcast on CNA’s Facebook page today, he said the media house’s editorial policy has kept changing based on what drives Cameroonian at each period.
From its initial policy of highlighting every happening during the Anglophone Crisis, the media house is now orientated towards development journalism, he said.
“The people are our number one priority. Those people who are voiceless, they are our number on priority,” Nchanji said.
“The people who cannot raise their voices to complain in offices, the social media is there; our platforms are there to make them raise their voices in a respectable manner without insulting people.”
Cameroon News Agency has been registered under Cameroon’s Ministry of Communication since 2017.
And like every media organ operating in the country, it faces communal challenges such as lack of finance, attacks on journalists and difficult access to information.
While in Cameroon, Nfor Hansen himself was a victim of oppression due to his critical coverage of the Anglophone Crisis.
The media house, nevertheless, says these challenges are opportunities that will spur its drive to spotlight the untold stories of Cameroonians.
Mimi Mefo Info and its entire editorial team wishes Cameroon News Agency a blissful 9th anniversary.
