SECTOR 1 least a Bachelor’s Degree7 in other fields. If implemented, this formal training requirement for entry into the profession would be a departure from the current practice that recognises a journalist on the merits of his/her intellectual faculty, training and talent, but not academic qualification8. Authorities are clearly seeking to make entry into the profession harder than it currently is, and panellists’ views on this were divergent. While some see it as a measure to weed out bad journalists, others perceive it as a restriction to freedom of expression and of the media. Supporters of this recommendation say the current practice has opened the door to “charlatans” who are “assassinating” journalism standards. Critics point at numerous examples of good journalists in Cameroon as well as in other parts of the world who have never attended a journalism school. The proposed legislation also fails to define the number of years of newsroom experience required by non-journalism graduates in order to be accredited, leaving it vulnerable to discretionary interpretation that might penalise prospective journalists. Criminal libel9 remains the most serious threat to freedom of expression, although panellists agreed that the number of court cases and prison terms resulting from the practice of journalism have significantly declined. 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: 3.3 (2008=n/a; 2011=n/a) 1.4 The Government makes every effort to honour regional and international instruments on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. Regional and international bodies have not enacted new laws and political agreements on freedom of expression and of the media since the 2011 AMB. However, the government has not made any effort to honour existing 7 8 9 84 Bachelor’s degree holders in other fields will also be required to have unspecified number of years of newsroom experience to qualify for journalism accreditation Law on Freedom of Social Communication, 1990, Article 46.1 Penal Code of Cameroon (1967 ), Articles 304, 305 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2014