Negative developments • The dominance of low quality talk shows and studio productions in the broadcast sector appeared to have tarnished the reputation of the media more than anything else. Seen by media owners as shortcuts to high audience numbers, critics say they are riddled with both professional and ethical shortcomings. Most of the shows are marked by biased analysis, often based on no expertise or facts. • Corruption in the media remained a major issue and has appeared to worsen over the past several years. These problems are ramifications of other issues that reflect on the media negatively, such as low pay, poor working conditions and inadequate training. Both officials and professionals seemed unable to find a lasting solution to the problem. • In spite of increasing advocacy, Cameroon remained far away from passing Access to information legislation. Many different organisations have produced draft laws, which have not yet been considered by the government. Secrecy clauses, often dispersed and hidden in different pieces of legislation, make newsgathering difficult and investigative journalism almost impossible. With no protection of the right to know, citizens have no claim on public information. • Newspapers became more fragile due to worsening economic conditions and intense competition from new media outlets. The moribund political environment has led to a dramatic drop in the number of “hot political stories” either in the form of breaking news or on-going stories which normally feed the media and fuel the industry. That said, it must be acknowledged that newspapers in particular have not been creative enough to produce alternative content. 2. The way forward for the Cameroon media Panellists recommended advocacy on two main areas be intensified. They are: • • Access to information: Several NGOs and NGO coalitions have already started work on Access to Information legislation in Cameroon. There is a strong conviction that the passage of an access to information legislation will greatly improve the media environment and help citizens to fully enjoy their right to know. 2012 Communication Forum Recommendations: In spite of the consensus that recommendations of the national Communication forum of 2012 will radically change the media landscape in Cameroon for the better, there are concerns that the delay in their implementation could be a sign of reluctance to effect meaningful change. There is a sense of urgency about the need to lobby public officials and legislators for the quick implementation of the proposals. Panellists suggested the setup of working groups to propose strategies for concrete action.