NCC slams sanctions on media organs

The discussions focused mainly on the finalizing the strategic plan of the Council’s functioning and the examination of eight petitions. The NCC at the close of the session slammed sanctions on ten journalists from practicing journalism in Cameroon for violating the ethics and professional code of practice governing mass communication.

The Council separately suspended “Aurore Plus” and its Publisher for a period of three (03) months, and journalists Barthélemy Nzock and André Som from practicing journalism in Cameroon for a period of six (06) months for disseminating unfounded claims which barely met the professional requirements of investigation, cross-referencing and the quest for balanced information.

The Publisher the bi-weekly “La Nouvelle Presse” according to the NCC failed to meet the professional requirements of cross-checking and balancing information. The Council issued a warning to Mr. Nwe Charles René, journalist with “La Novelle Presse”, for violating the ethics and professional code of practice governing mass communication.
The Publisher was instructed to publish the decision on the front page of his next issue following notification of this measure.

Mr. Dewa Aboubakar, journalist with the weekly “L’Anecdote”, for a period of three (03) months from practicing journalism in Cameroon for violating the ethics and professional code of practice governing mass communication.

The Publisher of the aforementioned newspaper, who was issued a warning, is required, in the very next issue of his newspaper following notification of the present decision, to have it published on the front page of his newspaper.

Haman Daniel, journalist in the newspaper “Le Soir” suspended for a period of one (01) month from practicing journalism in Cameroon for having published unfounded accusations in the 464th issue of the said newspaper in violation of the ethics and professional code of practice governing mass communication.

The Council separately suspended the print media organ called “La Météo” for a period of one (01) month and Mr. Mamouda Labaran, journalist in the said bi-weekly for a period of three (03) months.

The publisher of “Vision 4” was issued a warning and Mr. Amougou Nathan Homère, journalist of “Vision 4” and his programme “Sans tabou” suspended for (06) months .

Douala Manga Eric and Ndzana Arsène of the “L’Indépendant” newspaper were separately suspended for a period of three (03) months.

The decisions taken according to the Chairman of the National Communication Council, Peter Essoka are intended to recall the social responsibility the journalist especially those who erroneously misinterpret the concept of press freedom.