Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, the Douala-based legal luminary cum International Peace crusader, who is also patron of the press, has called on media practitioners to stand for the truth and shun moral decadence in all its forms. Ntumfor made the wake-up call in a voice note to the media during celebrations marking the 2026 World Press Freedom Day
World Press Freedom Day is a momentous celebration. It is not a momentous celebration only by the ladies and gentlemen of the press, but by the entire nation, continent and the entire world. This is certainly so because Thomas Jefferson, a former US President, gave a lot of value to the press. He opined that if he had to choose between the press and the government, he would prefer the press.
I want to seize this singular opportunity to congratulate all media professionals, groupings in Cameroon and beyond, for the road covered so far. Today May 3rd, is your day, it is our day. Of the three arms of government, you don’t find the media anywhere. I mean the executive, legislative and judiciary arms of government. Yet the media is the only mirror through which you can judge or ascertain the performances of these three arms of government. While others call the press, or better still the media, as the fourth arm of government, I have over the years referred to the media as the first arm of government. This is so because, according to me, the media is an indispensable socio-political, economic and social development tool. The media is indispensable in the life of every nation, continent and the entire world. The media shines the light for us to see what happens daily. It determines the pace of socio-political, economic and cultural development. The media reinforces all the efforts that are made to improve on all segments of society. If it is in democracy, it reinforces it. If it is in the rule of law, or the spiritual domain, the media reinforces both. In the same light, the media exposes wrongdoing and moral decadence in all its forms. The media equally holds power to account. I mean those who govern at the traditional, local, regional and national level.
I heartily congratulate media professionals from both public and private sectors, for what they have done so far, and are doing, and will continue to do, in spite of the very harsh socio-political, economic and cultural environment. Most media organs, I mean the press in general, exercise their work in a very excruciating environment due to the economic melt-down. It is an open secret that the press faces intimidation, threats and even elimination. It is very difficult for the press to access genuine and verifiable information. At times the press may not fulfil its role adequately because of want of means. This may force some few press organs to indulge into misinformation, disinformation and fabrications. I have often made allusion to press men and women of what happened in Rwanda in 1994. The genocide that cleared God’s children was an act of irresponsible journalism.
I know right that journalists the world over face intimidation, especially when they report on heinous crimes or wrongdoing by citizenry.
My clarion call to the media on this World Press Freedom Day, which is their day, our day, is that they should understand that the truth will set them free. As a journalist, you build your legacy through the quality of your reports. You can destroy your legacy when you play into the hands of crooks, who use you for their purpose, destroy and dump you when their goals have been attained. My wake-up call to the media is vigilance against unscrupulous citizenry.
The two take home concepts for journalists hinge on aptitude and attitude. All our training leads to our aptitude, but this does not necessarily contribute to our success in life. What determines our success and our built legacy is attitude, which is intricately linked to our character, integrity, dignity and honour. Media practitioner should know that their success in life and building a positive and impactful legacy must be anchored on attitude. When you build integrity, you have built a priceless value. I plead with media men and women to shun moral decadence in all its forms. Each time you want to go to press, ask yourself questions, and your conscience will direct you, whether what you want to disseminate and share with the public will bring glory and honour to your father who is in Heaven. Whether it will bring peace, because truth brings peace and falsehood brings chaos, anarchy and disorder. As a patron of the press, I will like to pray God Almighty to continue to lead, direct, guide and bless, accompany and protect all media practitioners.
I cannot end without once more extending my congratulations to the press for all their sacrifices to build their various nations, for almost no pay. God should look down on us with pity. Media practitioners, I commend you to be bold, courageous, and confident in doing your job, for the ultimate pay comes from God. Never yield to intimidation, threats and even elimination. The truth is even call an anathema, because so many people on earth don’t like the truth. Journalists should always stand for the truth, because when you stand for the truth, you stand for Jesus.
