Yaounde. Cameroon’s government is distributing $400,000 to the over 400 registered newspapers in the country as well as the more than 100 television and radio stations, online publications, printing presses and media associations.

This amount is an increase compared to the $270,000 that was made available in 2011.Previous allocations amounted to $300,000 in 2010 and $500,000 in 2009. The latter allocation was however subtracted by $200,000 ostensibly for use in the setting up of a media house to serve journalists in both the private and public media.

Other Francophone African countries such as Senegal, Gabon and Côte d’Ivoire have their own media assistance packages though the financial earmarks from Cameroon are on average lower.

Though there are more than 500 media organs in Cameroon, less than 200 meet the scrupulous and very demanding criteria to qualify for the assistance.

To qualify for this assistance, media houses must pay all the relevant business taxes with no preferential tariffs; they must show proof that they have registered at least two staff with the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF); and must have offices and publish regularly.

However past experience has shown that the allocation, which is voted by parliament, tends to show a bias toward pro-government media.

And since the money when it is split up is not much, most private media organs hardly apply for it The experience of the independent Weekly Post, according to its editor, is that the allocation can only help pay a quarter of yearly office rents for newspapers which have existing offices.

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