SECTOR 4 4.6 Journalists and editors do not practise self-censorship in in the private broadcasting and print media. Cameroon soccer star Samuel Eto’o Fils received a lot of bad press in 2014, mostly related to the Fifa World Cup in Brazil. Stories included the role he may have played in Cameroon’s dismal performance at the tournament and an alleged extramarital affair that went dirty. News organisations literally fed on the sensational news he generated. But a few weeks after the World Cup, all went quiet. Eto’o is believed to have successfully silenced the press with a combination of financial handouts and legal threats. Editors embargoed Eto’o stories in many newsrooms and reporters became increasingly careful when reporting on the multimillionaire footballer. Whether it is with regard to such seemingly harmless sports stories, routine political news or highly sensitive state issues, journalists in Cameroon practice varying degrees of self-censorship. Reporters are generally careful when reporting human rights abuse stories involving security forces or powerful public officials. Self-censorship is more rampant in public media houses because of the tight editorial controls, than in the private sector where reporters enjoy more freedom. Flops in the organisation of a meeting of Commonwealth parliamentarians in 2014 that led to some delegates being stranded at the airport in Yaounde, for example, were widely reported in the private media but not in the public media. Often, no one instructs public media journalists to leave out such details. They simply know it is in their best interest to do so. “Journalists are generally afraid when reporting certain stories.” One panellist recounted being questioned by a security officer, who started their meeting by pulling out a pistol. “People are afraid for their lives,” the panellist said. 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: 2.3 (2008=1.8; 2011=1.6) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2014 129