The centre regional branch of the Cameroon Committee Media Network, CCMN, has been launched in Yde with a call on journalists in the region to uphold the standards of the profession at a time the country is passing through several crisis.

The National Cordinator for the CCMN, Rosaline Obah Akah made the call on Thursday January 16 at the conference hall of the Protestant Voice Radio in Yaounde.

While detailing the mission, objectives and rules governing the nongovernmental organisation, the national coordinator added that journalists should uphold peace journalism norms at all times.

Rosaline Obah noted that it was but normal for the network to extend its tentacles from the NW/West and Southwest/Littoral regions to other regions due to the dire need to change the narratives of  reporting in the entire country.

The centre regional coordinator, Moma Sandrine on her part called on all to join hands in making the centre region vibrant and strong to compete with other regions while upholding the norms of the network. She also encouraged the journalists to remain objective in spite of their editorial policies. “We are first trained to serve, then to earn” she said.

The launching also featured a presentation on peace journalism by the Centre Regional Coordinator for the CCMN wherein she gave practical examples on how journalists can report stories to avoid victimising the locals.

Also present at the event was one of the CCMN founding members and a member of the national advisory board, Rev Ebai Gustav, who, called on all and sundry to in despite the trying times seek to uphold journalistic standards and seek to put the community at the centre of all what is done.

The over 20 media men and women who attended the launching expressed delight to the initiative taken by the network to extend its activities to the Centre region. A host of them left the ceremony with great enthusiasm to become members of the network.

By Minette Mponwe