Annotated Bibliography

1. Central Intelligence Agency. “CIA World Fact Book.”[Online] (2010) Available: <https://www.cia.gov/index.html> on March 1, 2010.

This information was used in compiling statistic information and researching for the comparative analysis.

2. Chebab Diane. “Away from Africa.” [Online] (2010) Available: <     http://awayfromafrica.blogspot.com/> on March 24, 2010.

Background information about Cameroon and a first hand perspective from blogger Diane Chebab can be found on this web site. This was a useful way to see Cameroon through the perspective of an western born individual who spent over ten years living in Cameroon as a foreign wife.

3. Dika, Christiane, and Nsangue Akwa. (2004). “The Feedback Phenomenon in the Cameroonian Press, 1990-1993." Africa Today. 51.1: 84-97.

This article looks at information in Cameroonian newspapers and gives an analysis that is feedback based. It examines reader reactions to the press given that communication plays such an important role in the context of the world today. It examines how media networks impact the lives of Cameroonians and condition their behaviors and lifestyle choices. It begins by identifying what the term ‘feedback’ means in the context of media and then analyzes that feedback through a variety of Cameroonian news sources such as the Cameroun-Tribune and Le Messager. It distinguishes between the private and public press and alludes to a period in the 1980’s when Paul Biya was in power as the time when the private press began to reveal itself. It looks at the exchange between readers, writers and publishers of all types of media in Cameroon. Specifically it describes this concept of media manipulation and the idea that news can have psychological impacts on Cameroonians.

4. Eko, Lyombe. (2003). “The English-language press and the ‘Anglophone Problem’ in Cameroon: Group identity, culture, and the politics of nostalgia.”Journal of Third World Studies. 20.1: 79-102.

This source looks at the English-language press in Cameroon given that is a predominetly French speaking country. It tries to inform readers about the ‘anglophone problem’ and how it impacts the politics within Cameroon. The writer describes how newspapers report in a style that illustrates events as problematic and present a solution that can be used to achieve political harmony. This article emphasizes English language newspaper and radio programs and how they present the Anglophone minority in Cameroon. It examines how newspapers decided that the Anglophone problem could only be solved through less French control over politics in Yaounde. In essence this looks at the relationship between minority groups and the press and how often news sources contribute to that marginalization through the influence of media.

5. Eribo, Festus and Enoh Tanjong, eds. (2002). Journalism and Mass Communication in Africa: Cameroon. Lanham: Lexington Books.

6. Europa World. “Comparative Statistics.” [Online] (2010). Available:<http://www.europaworld.com/comparative-statistics> on March 5, 2010.
This information was used in compiling statistic information and researching for the comparative analysis.

7. Government and Political Conditions. (2008). Background Notes on Countries of the World: Cameroon. 1: 4-10
This gives a brief background on the history, politics, government structure, and economy in Cameroon. The history details the period of colonization and the achievement of independence in 1960 for the Republic of Cameroon. It traces government officials particularly Paul Biya in 1982 and his Peoples Democratic Movement party (CPDM). It details the National Assembly and how it meets three times a year and has rarely made major changes in legislation set forth by the executive. Radio and television are in essence a monopoly of a state-run broadcaster, the Cameroon Radio-Television (CRTV). However in 2000 private media was authorized and since then radio stations have no received licenses from the government. Finally it looks at human rights and determines that the governments policies have been improving but still lack the level of human rights in other parts of the world. The government and judiciary are often corrupt and fall to the influence of politicians.

8. Johnston, Donald H. (Ed.). (2003). Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications. Vol. II. New York: Academic Press.

This gives basic data about the status of Media in the French-speaking areas of West Africa. It details the main news organizations and their level of influence and popularity.

9. Kurian, George T. (Ed.). (2007). Encyclopedia of the World’s Nations and Cultures. Vol. I. New York: Info Base Publishing.

This source was used for basic factual information including maps, geographical features, currency, environmental issues, ethnic compositions, historical background, government, foreign policy and general informational statistics.

10. Land, Mitchell and Brad Owens. (1997) “Cameroon’s Private Press and the Politics of Survival in a post-Authoritarian System.” African Rural and Urban Studies. 4: 39-58.

This article detailed the relationship between the private press and the government. Independent news organizations in Cameroon struggle to report on issues that challenge government views. During these post-authoritarian time periods sometimes reporters and editors were fighting for their survival and sometimes dying. It discusses how the 1990’s was one of the most challenging times for journalists particularly because of the hundreds of violent deathes in former Soviet republics. This was  a useful research resource because it helped me to contextualize media in Cameroon given its cultural pluralism.

11. Maher, Joanne. (2008). Europa World Yearbook. Vol. II. New York: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group 

This was used for statistical information that dealt with literacy rates, media access, media use and other indicative stats.

12. Muluh, Henry. And Enoh Tanjong. (2006). “Barriers to Indigenous Language Press in Cameroon” in Abiodun Salawu (Ed) Indigenous Language Media in Africa. Lagos: Center for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CCBAAC).

This chapter focused exclusively on the problem of language in Cameroon and the challenges of cultivating a mass media system that reflects the multi-ethnic nature of Cameroon. Colonial languages have taken over in Cameroon, becoming the dominant forms of communication and wiping out the regular use of indigenous languages. It also discussed the loss of the oral tradition that is so historically sacred to Cameroonians. With the development of mass media, Cameroon had to transition from an exclusively oral culture of storytelling to the concept of print and broadcast media. It examines the failure of indigenous language press and the struggle to unite a country made up of such a vast array of ethnic tribes.

13. Ndangam, Lilian N. (2008). “Free lunch? Cameroon's Diaspora and Online News Publishing." New Media & Society 10.4: 585-604.

This source takes the form of a case-study where it examines the role of The Post newspaper in Cameroon. It deals with the transition from print to online news outlets and discusses how the lack of technological infrastructure have made the online version of the newspaper target and rely on resources of a ‘diasporic’ audience for developing its web site. It examines the online transition and reflects on the way African migrants are interacting with their nationality. It concludes by saying that there is evidence to suggest that the relationship between the print side of news and the website that is owned externally struggles because the roles are not clearly defined. This results in less control of the web site and often the owner of the website who is not the content provider makes editorial decisions because he/she has the skills to do so. In summary the article looks at how a country such as Cameroon is adapting to new media technologies with little skills in that area

14. Tashsoh, Peter (2000). “Media Ownership and control in Cameroon in the Information Age: a Colonial Legacy” in Ritchard M’Bayo, Nwafo Nwanko, and Chuka Onwumechili (Eds.) Press and Politics in Africa. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press.

This article detailed the development of the press in Cameroon from the earliest colonial newspapers to the influx of broadcast media and internet technology. It focused on the colonial impact on the development of mass communications in Cameroon. Newspapers and Radio were to be printed and read in English and French rather than any one of the many indigenous languages in Cameroon. The article also examines the role of President Paul Biya and the type of leadership he has offered Cameroon. It looks at how he has dealt with media and what his general policies have been with regard to censorship and freedom of the press.
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15. Ngomba, Mbella M., and R.L. Nwafo Nwanko. (1990). “The context of television broadcasting in Cameroon." Journal of Black Studies 20.3: 335-341.

This looks specifically at the role and development of television in Cameroon. Television was delayed in Cameroon until 1985 even though many African countries surrounding it had been using TV for 25 years. Cameroon is the only African country to have been colonized by three different imperial forces (Germany, Great Britain and France). This article argues that Cameroon is unique from other African countries particularly because the presidential power and authority is very dominant and is founded on governmental bureaucracy. Therefore the development of this country has been a slower process managed through several five year plans beginning in the 1960’s. This type of gradual approach effected the immersion of media technologies in the country. It was not until March 1985 that Cameroon instituted a television system. The country was reluctant to introduce TV because the government wanted to put more resources to other projects. The vision for TV in Cameroon was more educational and emphasized a selective set of networks that focused on the nation. The article details the immersion of TV and its position in the Cameroonian culture today.

16. United Nations Development Program. “Human Development Ranking Reports.” [Online] (2010) Available: <http://hdr.undp.org/en/statistics/> on March 1, 2010.

This information was used in compiling statistic information and researching for the comparative analysis.

Interviews:

Images & Maps:
1. Global Road Warrior. “Cameroon: Maps.” [Online] (2010) Available: < http://www.globalroadwarrior.com/maps.asp?cid=26> on March 1, 2010.
2. Mapa Cartografico. “Album: Africa.” [Online] (2010) Available: < http://www.mapacartografico.com/album/africa/africa_pol98.jpg> on March 1, 2010.
3. National center for Biotechnology Information. “Trends and Issues in Child Undernutrition.” [Online] (2010) Available < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=dmssa&part=A459> on March 1, 2010