SECTOR 2 2.7 All media fairly reflect the voices of both women and men. «some women in decision making positions who are expected to speak out for other women are not prepared to grant interviews.» In March, Cameroon’s first private daily newspaper, Mutations, published a special issue entirely edited by women. However, this was an isolated action. When women are seen or heard in the media, it is often in stories regarding issues such as abortion and domestic violence. This focus tends to portray women in a negative light or as victims, without advancing their cause. Panellists believed that the reason for this is the cultural bias of Cameroonian society against women – a bias that is then easily reflected in the media. Women are also reluctant to come forward, and this very “macho” society assumes they have nothing good to say. One panellist pointed out that “some women in decision making positions who are expected to speak out for other women are not prepared to grant interviews.” 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: 1.6 (2008 = n/a) 2.8 All media fairly reflect the voices of society in its ethnic, linguistic, religious, political and social diversity. In spite of the country’s wide diversity, the media in Cameroon is generally not sensitive to issues such as ethnicity, language and social diversity. Subjects are pursued based on their news value, which may or may not deal with social diversity. As such, politics tends to dominate news coverage over everything else. 84 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2011