Joe Dinga Pefok
17 July 2008
The Counsellor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Cameroon, Lonnie Kelly Jr, has said the Embassy assists some journalism associations in the country in order to promote professionalism.
"And that is what we will continue to do, because we are very interested in the freedom of the press. We are interested in limiting censorship that might be either self imposed or imposed by others on journalists".
The Diplomat made the declaration on July 14at the American Language Centre in Douala, during a ceremony in which the US Embassy donated computers to an association of female journalists, Dynamic and Caring Female Journalists, known by its French in French as JAFEC.
The Public Affairs Officer said it is very difficult for journalists to effectively work these days without access to a computer and the internet. "So, it is very important for journalists to have computers and also access to the internet".
He said it was for this reason that the US Embassy found it necessary to positively respond to JAFEC's appeal, by donating computers.As for the partnership between JAFEC and the US Embassy, Kelly said they consider the partnership important, "because we find JAFEC to be probably the most serious of female journalists associations in Cameroon and so we are pleased to work with the group".
He expressed the hope that the female journalists will take advantage of the computers to effectively do their work. "We want serious female journalists to be heard and understood in Cameroon".
Kelly revealed that the US Embassy has more sympathy for female journalists in Cameroon because they are comparatively in a minority. "Female journalists are really a small portion of journalists in Cameroon. It is a good idea to try to raise the consciousness of people on how serious female journalists are and what they can really do".
Kelly congratulated JAFEC for its efforts to promote professionalism in journalism in Cameroon.
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