The media of Cameroon includes independent outlets. The nation has only one national newspaper, which is state owned.
Contents
- Freedom of Speech
- Print media
- Public
- Privately owned
- Radio and Television
- International
- Telecommunications
- Internet
- References
Cameroon's media includes print publications that are both public and privately owned; a public television station and privately owned channels; radio stations that are public, privately owned, and foreign, and the Internet.
Freedom of Speech
The constitution guarantees freedom of the press, but in practise the threat of government censorship generally prevents opposition viewpoints from appearing in print, especially in the government-controlled press.
Censorship and harassment of journalists is common in Cameroon. The government has been implicated in recent efforts to block access to Twitter within the country. Newspaper editor Raphaël Nkamtcheun was detained for receiving allegedly confidential government documents from former finance minister Polycarpe Abah Abah when he visited Abah in Yaoundé prison on February 17, 2011, an incident that Reporters Without Borders condemned as arbitrary intimidation. "Cameroun Express" editor Ngota Ngota Germain (aka Bibi Ngota) died in Yaoundé’s Kondengui Central Prison on April 22, 2011, an incident opponents cite as government intimidation; other reporters subject to arrest and incarceration without being charged include editors Serge Sabouang of the bimonthly "La Nation" and Robert Mintya of the weekly "Le Devoir"
In 2009, the freedom of the press global classification released each year by Reporters Without Borders ranked Cameroon 109 out of 175 countries. "Sensitive issues" were reported there.
88 proposals to create private radio and television services are under examination by the Minister of Communication.
Print media
Most Cameroonian publications are issued irregularly and have small circulations. The majority are published in French, but some appear in Bulu, Duala, and other native languages of Cameroon. The major daily is the Cameroon Tribune, the official government newspaper, published in French in Yaoundé, with a weekly English-language edition; circulation was 66,000 in French and 20,000 in English as of 2002. There are 40 to 50 private newspapers, most of which are published sporadically.
Cameroon's print media includes several publications, including the following:
Public
Privately owned
Radio and Television
In 1987 Cameroon’s radio and television networks were merged to form the Office de Radiodiffusion–Télévision Camerounaise (CRTV), which operates under the authority of the Ministry of Information and Culture. There are broadcasting stations at Yaoundé, Douala, Garoua, Buea, Bertoua, Bamenda, and Bafoussam, offering programs in French, English, and many African languages. In 2004, there were about 20 privately owned radio stations operating in the country; however, these were not officially licensed. The state-owned Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) is the only officially recognized and fully licensed broadcaster in the country.
In 2003, there were an estimated 161 radios and 75 television sets for every 1,000 people.
Public
Privately owned
Public
Cameroon has several public radio stations, regulated by the Radio de l'office national de radio et télévision (CRTV).
Privately owned
International
It is also possible to receive Canal+ Horizons.
Telecommunications
The telecommunications network has been improving over the years. It is still inadequate by international standards; the fixed line infrastructure, owned by the monopoly fixed-line service provider Camtel, has outdated equipment and service in the country is irregular. Only 1 out of every 100 Cameroonians has a fixed-line telephone.
An automatic telephone exchange system links all important cities and towns. Cable, telegram, and telex services connect Cameroon to the outside world. In January 1974, a satellite telecommunications earth station was inaugurated, greatly improving the quality of Cameroon’s international telephone service. However, service is still limited to mostly business and government use.
As of 2009, there are approximately 40 mobile telephone subscribers for every 100 people in Cameroon.
Internet
In 2003, there were 5.7 personal computers for every 1,000 people and 4 of every 1,000 people had access to the Internet. There were three secure Internet servers in the country in 2004.