The freedom laws which gave journalists a boost in Cameroon

1. 1990 Press Law
Came in the wake of a politically
charged environment

2. Motivated by four main considerations
Political Level
 Professional Level
Economic Level
International Level

3. Political Level
Clamour for greater democracy
 Liberalization of the political system
pressure generated from outside, gathered
momentum in Cameroon between March and
June 1990 with demands for the release of
political activists like Yondo Black & Djeukam
Tchameni Dominique Jean

4. Political Level
Pro-democracy demonstrations in Bamenda
on May 26
 Publication of the pastoral letter of the
Bishops of Cameroon
 Formation of political parties

5. Professional Level
Pressure from newsmen of the private press for
greater freedom of expression.
 criticism by Le Messager, Le Combattant &
Cameroon Post of the obnoxious 1966 press law.
1966 press law also came under heavy criticism in
the official media
Cameroon Calling, a weekly radio programme of
news analysis and commentary picked holes with
the law

6. Professional Level
During the tense political situation many
journalists were blamed for hiding the truth
 June 11, 1990 Cardinal Tumi criticized the
official press for carrying out disinformation
campaigns
to save face with the public, journalists
started agitating for more freedom &
independent reporting.

7. Professional Level
 Boh Herbert and Nkengfack Ofege resigned
from their posts as editors for political and
economic affairs
 Zacharle Ngniman, editor-in-chief and
Antolne-Marie Ngono, political editor for the
radio news departments ,forwarded open
protest letters to the Information and Culture
Minister

8. Pressures from foreign NGOs
Les Joumalistes Sans Frontier, French
association of newsmen fighting for press
freedom
Article 19, a British organization with same
purposes,
Index on Censorship and Amnesty
International.

9. Economic Level
 Deep economic crisis
 Privatisation
 Encouragement of liberal professions like
journalism were regarded as solutions
 simplification of requirements to establish
news organs like newspapers, radio and
television stations could create employment
for the growing number of graduates.

10. International Level
France & the United States decided to tie
economic assistance to the democratization
process.
Events in Eastern Europe and other African
countries