In what looks like a calculated selection, State media, CRTV has been reporting the visit of U.S diplomat, Tibor Nagy from just a particular angle. Her reporters have been on a serious campaign to painting a picture that looks like Mr Nagy’s trip to Cameroon was to explore new trade avenues for businesses ONLY. A reporter from inside the state house at Etoudi is reported to have even said that his sources say nothing filtered out of the diplomatic conversations between President Biya and Mr Nagy concerning Maurice Kamto’s Detention and the Anglophone Crisis.
This had gotten many wondering why the envoy of Donald Trump would leave pertinent issues like insecurity, human rights violation, and other Poor Governance issues which were the crux of his visit, to start dabbling in trade which isn’t really the best at the moment between both countries.
After his visit to the Unity Palace, the Diplomat went on to social media, Twitter, to announce what his points of discussions with not only the president but some other top dignitaries had been all about. First was his tweet on his discussions with Paul Biya;
Today, President Paul Biya and I discussed the way forward in our bilateral relationship, security assistance and human rights concerns in Cameroon. I also encouraged an end to violence and inclusive dialogue in the Northwest and Southwest Regions
Shortly afterwards, his tweet on MRC’s detained leader, Maurice Kamto;
Foreign Minister, Mbella Mbella and I had a constructive discussion today on areas of cooperation. I highlighted my concerns about the arrest of Kamto and others, encouraging Cameroon to ensure due process, peaceful Assembly and freedom of speech
These 2 tweets maintain Nagy’s position on the issues in Cameroon prior to his arrival in the country on March 17th. The U.S Embassy of Yaoundé’s Facebook page has also been reporting the visitor’s activities in the country ever since his arrival. He had welcomed His Ambassador here, Peter Henry Barlerin and delegations of his countrymen especially those doing business in Cameroon.
With this distortion of information, many had been quick to conclude that, Nagy’s visit was inconsequential to the majority of suffering Anglophones even without another information source informing the public rightly, on all angles of his visit. Thanks to social media, Cameroonians and the world have the facts to judge from now.
Misinformation and disinformation are journalistic concepts that threaten the healthy practice of the media Corp and has as good friends, Bias and hate speech. It is common practice today in Cameroon to have half-baked news from even the public media in an attempt to side on stories and propel propaganda. The evolution of the social media has compounded the situation.
However, choosing a side to report a story is accepted but not when it must be distorted. The CRTV even mentioned with their news editions of Monday 18th that the diplomat said nothing on Kamto nor the Anglophone crisis. This attitude of Selective angling has discredited the CRTV.
Tibor Nagy who is on his African tour leaves Cameroon on Tuesday 19th of march 2019.
