Media Environment

Cultural Rifts Assesment

Media Comparisons

World Communication

Forging Ahead

General Statistics

Comparison Statistics

Timeline of Events

Forging the Divide

Cameroon is a relatively young country and in the future it will continue to focus on nation unity in order to deal with issues created by the many divisions along ethnic, religious and linguistic lines. Modern mass communication technologies will be adapted to as time progresses and the current technological revolution continues to dominate world culture and communication. It is possible that freedom of the press will become more widely accepted and independent news organizations will develop but more than likely that will not happen without radically restructuring of the government and its attitude toward censorship and free press. Access to internet, cell phones, televisions and new technologies will inevitably increase in the future and the challenge for Cameroon will be in its ability to hold onto its rich history of tradition and culture while also benefiting from the use of such media technologies. Diane Chebab notes that young people have little money and spend their time hanging out with friends, going to nightclubs and amusement parks. She says young Cameroonians aren’t typically connected on social media networks in the same way that the youth of America are. If technology and mass communication continue to develop across continents young Cameroonians will eventually find themselves on social media networks such as Facebook or Myspace.

Foreign Investment in Cameroon will continue to develop as industrialized nations decide to take advantage of some of the potential resources. Cameroon is one of the most economically prosperous countries in Africa with a stable business environment but it should be weary of foreign investors and loans from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. The government in Cameroon began economic reform in the 1980’s which was supported by the World Bank and IMF. “The European Union remains Cameroon’s main trading bloc, accounting for 36.6% of imports and 66.1% of exports and France is Cameroon’s main trading partner, but the United States is the leading investor in Cameroon through the Chad-Cameroon pipeline and energy provider AES SONEL.” (Embassy) It is important to consider what this foreign investment means for the country and whether or not it will help Cameroon forge into the future, trying to move away from poverty and corruption, develop a sound media environment and retain its simple lifestyle grounded in oral traditions and historical values.