The Cameroon Media Landscape: Comparing its operationlisation to Principles Governing the Practice of Journalism.

JOURNALISM’S FIRST OBLIGATION IS THE TRUTH
To an extent, the Cameroon media landscape respects the principle of truth in journalism practice by the fact that most of the private media organs publish or give out reliable information to the masses respecting figure and facts in a way to complement the state owned media. Programs like Town Crier on LTM gives out the real images and in-depth analysis of community or societal happenings.
The state owned media CRTV fulfills its obligation to report with exactitude the government activities like governmental projects ahead of vision 2035. Transparency is evident in their respective area of focus as audience can make their own assessment regarding media output

2 . IT MUST SERVE AS INDEPENDENT MONITOR OF POWER.
For the activities of journalism be fully effective or implemented, it has to stay clear of government dealings. The media is made to act as a Watch Dog in the society and not to be controlled by the society. The media is seen as the fourth estate independent of the state. This principle is widely accepted by many nations. In Cameroon, this is just formally presented on paper as there exist government owned and personal media organs. CRTV which is funded and controlled by the government, its content does not reflect that of a watch dog but rather propagating and consolidating government actions. Ocean City Radio in Kumba is into promoting his business as a herbalist doctor rather than being independent of control.
3. IT MUST PROVIDE A FORUM FOR PUBLIC CRITICISM AND COMPROMISE.
The media landscape in Cameroon to a greater extend provides forum for this point through programs both in the private and government owned media. These programs give room for public opinion on matters plaguing the country. Within these programs there is total freedom of speech as the opinions of audiences are sampled without fear of harassment. Programs like TELEOPINION on CRTV and of TOWN CRIER o LTM are all programs that give room for interaction and feedback.

4 . ITS PRACTITIONERS MUST BE ALLOWED TO EXERCISE THEIR PERSONAL CONSCIENCE.
Media ethics being the main drive in the profession demands accountability in rendering services to the public is not a virtue when it comes to the Cameroon media landscape. Very few of the media practitioners are skilled or are professionals thus leaving room for massive influx of quacks that do not follow basic rules of the profession. This is typical of the private media owners in Cameroon.
5.  ITS FIRST LOYALTY IS TO THE CITIZENS.
The Cameroon media landscape is very lacking in the domain of putting the interest of the citizen before any other matter as demands one of the principles of journalism practice. Both the private and the public media put money before service to the people. While CRTV construct news items to fit the interest of the government from which its fund is generated, the private media give priority to advertising which is one way to make money before service the people.