Cameroon
2.11

State print media are not subsidised with taxpayer’s 		
money.

ANALYSIS:
There are two categories of workers with “Cameroon Tribune” –
those recruited directly and those from the Ministry of Communication, who are of course civil servants. Part of the latter’s salary
comes from the Ministry of Finance. The payment of a part of the
salary by the state represents subsidies. Out of the ten panellists,
two still thought that this did not represent a subsidy.
SCORES:
Individual scores:			

1, 1, 2, 5, 5, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1

Average Score: 			

2.0

2.12

Government does not use its power over the placement of 		
advertisements as a means to interfere with media 			
content.

ANALYSIS:
The government chooses where to advertise and the number one
criterion appears to be to use advertisements as a leverage to get
journalists to toe the line. When a newspaper decides to become
too critical of the powers that be, the authorities make sure adverts
are sent there with the understanding that with food on the table,
the editors would become less critical.
SCORES:
Individual scores:			

1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2

Average score: 			

1.5

20				

African Media Barometer - Cameroon 2008

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