SECTOR 1 income from doing so. Panellists argued that this open definition has caused an influx of unskilled and unqualified people into the profession. Even though ideally, entry into the journalistic profession should not be legally restricted, panellists advocated for more statutory entry restrictions into the profession. Currently entry into journalism ’is so open that it is a problem,’ said one panellist. The institution of a government-issued press card was initially seen as a way to weed out ’bad’ or ‘quack’ journalists. However, the Press Card Commission and its work have been highly controversial and have been criticised for issuing cards to the very people that it was required to kick out of the profession. ’The [government-issued] press card has had no consequence on the practice of journalism,’ said one panellist. ’Having the press card is not a proof of credibility or professionalism.’ One panellist alleged that press cards were issued to more than 350 security operatives pretending to be journalists. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ 3.8 (2008 = n/a; 2011 = n/a; 2014 = 3.3) 1.4 The government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media Cameroon has ratified most regional and international instruments on the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the media. Once ratified, these instruments become applicable in the country. However, ’ratification does not mean that a convention or treaty would be respected,’ said one panellist. Panellists were therefore of the view that Cameroon might have taken the initial steps but does not make every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression. Remarkably, they noted that even though Cameroon is not a party to the Florence Convention, tax waivers for media consumables – such as newsprint and ink – have been included in the country’s Customs Code. 15 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2018