An Assessment of Sports Reporting In Cameroon, Its Challenges and Prospects

January 17th, 2012 |

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Certification

This is to certify and attest that, Sports Journalism in Cameroon, Its Challenges and Prospects is the original work of Solomon LYONGA IKUNDI (SM07A474).

Date…………………………………….

Signature……………………………..

Kingsley Lyonga Ngange

Supervisor

Dedication

This dissertation is dedicated to my mother, Stella-Maris Nalowa Ikundi for all she has done for me and all she will do. To her, I am most grateful.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I want to begin by thanking God for his abundant blessings in my life. Yes indeed, the good lord has carried me this far and he has made me to realise some of my big dreams.

To my supervisor, brother and senior colleague, Kingsley Lyonga Ngange, I say thank you for enduring my weaknesses. Your intellectual support and your friendship gave me great inspiration and a motivation to move ahead. You are the best!

My deepest and profound gratitude goes to my grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ikundi in Small Soppo, my mother, Stella Ikundi, my aunt in Canada, Elizabeth Ikundi.

Today, I also think in a special way of Lydia Limeni Ikundi, Louis Ikundi, Joseph Lyonga Ikundi, Cecilia Eposi Ewunde, Emma Ikundi, Fidel Ikundi, Irene Ikundi, S.L. Ikundi and all the Ikundis. I think my plans would have backfired without these people.

I am also indebted to all those who have always made me to hope. I think of Mr. Charles Ndi Chia, Mr. Matute Menyoli, Mr. Samuel Bokuba, Mr. Zachary Nkwo, Mr. Njomo Kevin, Simon Lyonga, Mr. Mbua Evelle and all my friends.

Thank you Richard Ashu Atem-Ojong for proof reading my work. You are a friend indeed.

To all my lecturers, Dr. Enoh Tanjong, Henry Z. Muluh, Diffang Funge and Divine Besong, thanks a million!

May the good lord reward you all immensely.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Certification……………………………………………………………………………………………i

Dedication………………………………………………………………………………………………ii

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………………………iii

Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………………….vi

Table of Contents………………………………………………………………………………………v

CHAPTER I: Introduction

Background

History of Sports Journalism……………………………………………………………………….6

Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………………….9

Hypothesis………………………………………………………………………………………………….10

Research Questions……………………………………………………………………………………10

Objectives…………………………………………………………………………………………………..10

Significance…………………………………………………………………………………………………11

CHAPTER II: Literature Review……………………………………………………………………..13

CHAPTER III: Methodology…………………………………………………………………………….18

Sampling Plan and Procedure……………………………………………………………………….19

Instrumentation…………………………………………………………………………………………….20

Pre-Test………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20

Data Collection………………………………………………………………………………………………21

Concept Explication………………………………………………………………………………………21

Limitations……………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

CHAPTER IV: Discussion and Inferences…………………………………………………………25

Chapter V: Conclusions and Generalisations…………………………………………………..32

Challenges of Sports Journalism in Cameroon………………………………………………..37

Recommendations.………………………………………………………………………………………….39

Refereneces

Appendix

Questionnaires………………………………………………………………………………………………..45

Chapter One:

History of Sports Journalism

Mark Inabinett (1994) notes that the decade or so between the end of World War I and the beginning of the Great Depression was described as a decade of change.

America and the world wanted to put the memory of the Great War behind them and enjoy life. The economy was booming and Americans fell in love with sports.

The 1920s was described as the Age of the Spectators as new and bigger stadiums and gymnasiums were built and the radio became the most favourite medium that provided news about sporting events. Newspapers too increased their coverage of sports and fans were able through the media, to keep up with their favourite teams. Baseball was the most important discipline in America in the 20s and it was during this golden age that sport fans began to emerge.

Inabinett(1994) notes that Grantland Rice wrote about the athletes who made the age golden. He is celebrated as the pioneer in sports writing with a writing style that employed both hyperbole and lyricism to paint vivid images of athletes.

In August 1954, sports journalism in America was changed forever with the birth of the Sports Illustrated Magazine. During its first five years of growth, the magazine was aimed at the American middle class consumer and covered just about middle class consumer and covered just about any sports story it could cover. As years went on, the magazine began to specialise on sports like baseball, football and basketball.

HISTORY OF SPORTS JOURNALISM IN ASIA

Sports journalism in Asia started gaining importance only after 1985 in Nepal, according to Acharya(1998). At that time, there were only two broadsheet dailies, Gorkhapatra and The Rising Nepal. In those days, it was difficult to talk about a separate page for sports in a newspaper and even the coverage that was given was very scanty (Shakya, 1999)

The history of sports journalism began with Sporting Times, a sports magazine published in 1956 and edited by Manindra RajShrestha. It was an English fortnightly ( Shakya.1999). The magazine ceased publication after a few issue. Since then, a number of sports magazines were published, but none of them lasted long e.g. Rangasala and another magazine published by The National sports council of Nepal called Khel Ra Kheledi in 1968.

HISTORY OF SPORTS JOURNALISM IN CAMEROON

Basically, the first sports reporters in Cameroon went on the airwaves of Radio Diffusion du Cameroun (Radio Cameroon) in the late 1960s. But it is Peter Essoka and French colleague, Abel Mbengue who quickly gained prominence when they were sent to Sudan to cover the 1970 edition of the African Nations Cup.

According to Njomo Kevin, who covered the 1994 World Cup for CRTV radio, late Mark Nebo was one of the first to present sport programmes on the national radio in the 1960s. Denis Lafon was equally running sports in Radio Buea almost at the same time.

For the broadcast media, the pioneers in English sports reporting were Mark Nebo, Peter Essoka, Zachary Nkuo, Ben Becka Jovens, Njomo Kevin, Michael Nzeh, Gregory Alem, Peter Afuh in Bamenda(RIP), Joves Ngwa, Mboh Herbert, Ignatius Fon Echekiye. Njomo narrates that in the French desk, names like Andre Ngangue, Abel Mbengue, David Walter Lea, Ernest Mbende, Daniel Anicet Noah, Joseph Eloundou Nzieh, Samuel Alame, Jean Lambert Nang proved to be colourful scribes.

According to Professor Boyomo Assala of the Advanced School of Mass Communications, the first all-sports newspaper in Cameroon was Courrier Sportif du Benin published from 1955 to 1974.

Historically, women have not been extremely involved in sports reportage. According to Njomo, the first female sports reporter in the country on Television was Pamela Messi in 1988, while the much loved Judith Ngale did sports on radio. Others like the late Christiana Nkuo Ufenyi gave a proper account of themselves. In 2004, a female journalist, Magdalene Soppi Kotto was raised to the level of chief of the Sports desk at the national station of the

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An Assessment of Sports Reporting In Cameroon, Its Challenges and Prospects

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