The Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association, CENPA, have made a clarion call to the Head of state, President Paul Biya to save the dying print media hard hit by the ongoing socio-political arm conflict in the North West and South West Regions.
The close to thirty publishers are proposing the creation of an assistance fund by the Head of State, to aid the English newspapers. The English tabloids made this information known at the opening of a seminar organized by CENPA, Thursday 03, June 2023 in Ebolowa, South Region. The two-day seminar is pitched under the theme; “Rescuing the dying Anglophone print media”.
According to the President of CENPA who doubles as the publisher of The Guardian Post, Ngah Christian, most English language newspapers have been reduced to periodicals with over 70% of their readership lost due to the prevailing instability in the English-speaking regions and rise in print material prices.
“Most of the companies which use to advertise in English newspapers have been crippled by the crisis. We are barely surviving. We are making a plea to the Head of state to create a special fund to assist English newspaper publishers”. He stated.
The workshop through the input of seasoned consultants is said to sharpen the skills of the publishers on leadership in newsrooms, digital and physical security for newspaper publishers, media management and sustainability.