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Transcript/Script
USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: CAMEROON FACT-CHECKING
HEADLINE: Cameroon journalists hope to combat disinformation ahead of 2025 election
TEASER: Journalists in Cameroon say they are working to counter election disinformation in an effort to provide accurate reporting.
PUBLISHED AT: 12/24/24, 9:18 am
BYLINE: Njodzeka Danhatu
DATELINE: BUEA, SOUTHWEST REGION OF CAMEROON
VIDEOGRAPHER: Muleng F. Timngum
VIDEO EDITOR: Muleng F. Timngum
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Africa Division Editors
SCRIPT EDITORS: Salem Solomon, KEnochs; MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:49
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: ))
((INTRO))
[[Cameroonians will head to the polls next year to elect their next president. Previous elections in this Central African nation were marred by widespread disinformation. This time, journalists and media professionals say they are taking preemptive measures to stop the flow of falsehoods. Njodzeka Danhatu reports from Buea, Cameroon.]]
((NARRATOR))
Amboh Vanessalizzy, a social media content creator in Buea, was browsing through social media when news popped up that falsely reported that Cameroon’s 91-year-old president, Paul Biya, had died.
Vanessalizzy suspected the news to be fake. but the President was out the country, and the government didn’t release a statement denying the rumor until after over a month following an official visit to China. But the news had already gone viral.
((Amboh Vanessalizzy, Content Creator)) ((Female, in English))
In as much as we want change, I will not wish anybody death.”
((NARRATOR)) ((Mandatory courtesy: YouTube: ABS AFRICATV))
The rumor it turns out was started by an anti-Biya separatist group working to establish an autonomous English-speaking region in Cameroon.
Batata Boris-Karloff, station manager of CBS Buea in Southwest Cameroon, vows to fight similar rumors and provide accurate reporting, especially as the 2025 election approaches. He says he’s spent over five years fact-checking reports.
((Batata Boris-Karloff, CBS Buea Station Manager)) ((Male, in English))
“I am already preparing myself to tackle any election misinformation that may come in.”
((NARRATOR))
Jude Mbaku – the editor-in-chief of DMRTV Buea – is a leading fact-checker in the region. He’s tracked separatist groups using social media to mislead the public, even on personnel matters involving the Cameroonian national football club.
((Jude Mbaku, DMRTV Buea Editor-in-chief)) ((Male, in English))
“When the Lions went to Cote d’Ivoire for the African Nations Cup, rumor pedals had it that Njie Clinton had resigned from the squad. And those who propagated this more were the separatist fighters. This was not done as a matter of mistake. It was well cooked and well prepared to disinform and misinform people.”
((NARRATOR))
Karloff combating disinformation is more difficult due to limited funding, security risks, and restricted access to information.
((Batata Boris-Kaloff, CBS Buea Station Manager)) ((Male, in English))
“I have gone to the regional delegation of transport to ask for the statistics of registered cars in the southwest, particularly in Buea, and I was told to go and stand on the road to start counting the cars myself.”
((NARRATOR))
Journalism experts are urging fact-checkers to keep fighting disinformation and practicing responsible reporting.
[[Radio Track: Kingsley Ngange is a journalism professor.]]
((Kingsley Ngange, Journalism Professor)) ((Male, in English))
“You have to keep pushing for laws that would guarantee access to information. In Cameroon, the constitution provides for that, but we do not yet have access to the Information Act.”
((NARRATOR))
And just like elsewhere around the world, journalists here say social media is the primary source of disinformation in Cameroon.
((Njodzeka Danhatu, VOA News, Buea, Cameroon.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateDecember 24, 2024 09:27 EST
BylineNjodzeka Danhatu
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
