HAITI LOW PRIORITY TO CAMEROONIAN MEDIA

UNCLAS YAOUNDE 000049 SIPDIS DEPT FOR AF/FO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL HA CM SUBJECT: HAITI LOW PRIORITY TO CAMEROONIAN MEDIA REF: STATE 5277 ¶1. Cameroonian media coverage of the situation in Haiti has been meager, though factual and unbiased. Most of the limited written press accounts have been from sources such as RFI, AFP, and Le Monde, while television stations have utilized footage from international news organizations. Radio call-in shows have focused on sympathy for those affected by the earthquake. ¶2. Francophone daily Le Jour ran an opinion piece January 20 under the headline "Earthquake in Haiti and Cynicism in Cameroon" in which the author excoriated the Cameroonian media, especially state-run CRTV, for its lack of earthquake reporting. The silence, he argued, is in stark contrast to the ubiquitous coverage of the national soccer team's lackluster performance at the African Nations Cup. The author highlighted the support given by such African countries as Gabon, DRC, Morocco, and South Africa, as well as that of western nations, before turning his criticism squarely on his own country: "And Cameroon? Have we reached this high a degree of cynicism? Have we hit the rock bottom of egocentrism? Have we blurred values to the point of trembling body and soul for soccer while a whole country sinks into nothingness, following an earthquake that might well happen to us? Why is it that so many thousands of deaths cause the international media to dedicate their entire news programs to covering it while our national television gets drunk on soccer? What about those Cameroonians belonging to the UN staff who died? What about the other Cameroonian about which we have had no news in days..." ¶3. Post has worked to combat the lack of media coverage through heavy distribution of IIP generated products. The Ambassador raised Haiti in an interview with state-run media following a meeting with the Foreign Minister. Additionally, Post has conducted interviews with local media using PAS staff with prior Haiti experience and has more scheduled. GARVEY