One recent survey/polls in the USA just came out stating that “Journalists are among the least-trusted members of society, below sales people and only a notch above politicians.” One of the reasons, – “they will chase anybody if they think they can bring them down.”

In civilized societies, true journalists are free from partisan party ties, have integrity and can’t be bought, are passionate about informing the public debate, seek the truth, reports objectively and fairly, and include multiple perspectives even those they dislike.

They are prepared to investigate all they hold dear and see nobody as being beyond reproach and are realistic about human nature. The true journalist seeks the truth. But in Cameroon to understand the relationship between the media and politics, it’s important to look at the various dynamics that can exist between a journalist and a politician and or political party. This write up was inspired after reading through, “Is your journalism open to Manipulation” by David Brewer.

Upon graduation from the prestigious school of journalism, most of our brothers/sisters usually land their first jobs with the Government, prior to press liberalization. There they are comfortable and usually join forces with colleagues who “l scratch your back, you scratch mine”.

These freshly minted journalists see their job as a 9 to 5 chore that not only serves to provide the means to exist but a stepping stone to fame. They usually enjoy fine wine and good food that is usually available to these chosen few.

They see this as being fair, impartial and balanced until reality starts setting in that they are pawns in a difficult game of chess. Then they scramble out of their government paid jobs and some seek refuge within opposition parties hoping that the tides will quickly turn in their favor.

Some start off by hiding their allegiance, but soon can’t help it showing through in their tone, story choice and their ability (or inability) to ask the searching question. The journalist transformed into party member spends a lot of time rubbishing the political opinions of those with whom they disagree.

They will fiercely defend the positions their new found party against all logical reasoning and likely to publish anything their politician master wants with no questions asked. Then they finally become the possession of and are usually owned by these politicians they serve through compromise and over-familiarity.

They most probably lost their journalistic integrity at this stage and usually at such an early age. These journalists are little more than an unpaid member of the politician’s public relations team. They enjoy name-dropping and being seen as connected to the influential. They soon rise to become a “buddy” a close friend to the politician and rarely question their position, often taking the stance that the politician is right regardless of any evidence to the contrary. The buddy journalist is easily manipulated.

Then suddenly there is a rift and the journalist becomes an activist committed to a cause (if any exists) and will fight any politician (even their former boss) who is against that cause while supporting any politician who backs the cause.

These journalists turned activists can be blinkered and one-dimensional. They find it hard to achieve balance because they either can’t evaluate the other perspective or because they realize that offering balance may weaken the angle they wish to push.

The activist journalist enjoys being seen as the martyr and often risks becoming the story rather than covering the story. They usually over extend their 15 minutes of fame. Slowly and steadily the activist journalist becomes the hunter.

They start to relentlessly track down everyone including their former hero. They follow any and every trail and will give up nothing until they have their prey. The journalist turned hunter often lacks perspective and objectivity and becomes obsessed with killing their prey and will hang on every story, even without authentication.

My simple advice, Mr. Boh Herbert, you lose credibility if you don’t “Match your Cartridge to the Game”. You should have adequate killing power for the intended quarry, not too much, and certainly not too little. The SDF has never and will never have monopoly of being the sole “legitimate representatives” of those opposing the government.