Election Campaign Coverage: NCC President Wants Guidelines Respected

Reporters and media organs operating in the country have been called upon to shun the dissemination of information which can destabilize social peace, national unity and integration, democracy and human rights. Peter Essoka, President of the National Communication Council:NCC, made the call in Yaounde during a press briefing, Friday September 23.

The press outing came on the eve of the kick off of the presidential election campaign. According to Essoka, “during election campaigns, there is a greater requirement for the expression of diversity in the handling of political information in general, or topics related to the themes or issues of electoral competition.”

The NCC President urged reporters to accord special attention to transparency, pluralism and balance in their coverage of the electoral campaign and the elections proper. He said reporters and their respective media houses have the responsibility to properly inform the masses so that they understand the topic covered and can make well informed choices.

The media regulator has also warned against any direct or indirect call for secession by media practitioners. “Any message of support to secessionists and secession must be censor...