By Mbuh Stella
The Minister of Communication has placed the first-ever North West Media Forum under his patronage, describing the gathering as a critical space for “solutions, innovation and professional renewal” for journalists working in one of the country’s most challenging environments.
Speaking through his representative, Njike Celestine, Regional Delegate of Communication for the North West, the Minister acknowledged the harsh realities facing media professionals in the conflict-hit region.
“Journalists in the North West Region operate in a highly volatile and dangerous environment,” Njike said.
“They face economic hardship, insecurity, psychological trauma and serious threats that often force self-censorship and undermine press freedom.”
Despite these constraints, he praised local media for remaining resilient and adaptive, noting that community radios, online platforms and citizen journalists continue to play a vital role in informing and mobilising communities.
He assured participants that government institutions remain open to “constructive and locally adapted solutions” emerging from the forum.
Addressing participants, CAMASEJ National President, Jude Viban, said the forum’s theme, “Reviving the Media: Reclaiming Dignity, Rebuilding Journalism, Renewing Hope” reflects the lived reality of journalists in the North West.
“Reviving the media is not a slogan. It is an urgent necessity,” Viban said. “Reclaiming dignity means confronting unpaid labour and unsafe working conditions. Rebuilding journalism means investing in ethics, safety and innovation, even in conflict-affected environments.”
He warned that a weakened media endangers democracy itself, adding that journalists must resist internal divisions.
“Whether you work in public, private, community or international media, we remain one body,” he said.
For Sah Terence, President of CAMASEJ Bamenda Chapter, the forum marks the fulfilment of a long-held vision born out of crisis.
“Today is not just the opening of a forum; it is the fulfilment of a collective dream many thought was impossible,” he said, thanking journalists who persevered despite insecurity and economic precarity.
Sah stressed the heightened responsibility of the media in an electoral year, urging journalists to counter hate speech and xenophobia through ethical and conflict-sensitive reporting.
Held in Bamenda, the two-day forum brings together journalists, policymakers and partners to reflect on safety, sustainability and professionalism, with organisers hoping it will serve as a turning point for rebuilding journalism with dignity and renewed hope in Cameroon’s North West Region.
