Role of the Media in Climate Change Communication in the Northwest Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Climate change communication is relatively new in Cameroon. It has become prominent because of dramatic environmental changes that threaten livelihoods. This paper, therefore, sets out to examine the role of the media in communicating climate change issues. To ascertain this, 28 media outlets composed of 25 radio stations and 3 newspapers were sampled to know their programmes on climate and environmental issues throughout the Northwest Region of Cameroon. In spite of their efforts to sensitise the public on the changing climate, the media fail to communicate the basics like daily weather forecast. However, 20 media houses (71.42%) broadcast climate change-related programmes and 19 (67.85%) have other environmental related programmes. All the media houses reported that the public is receptive of climate and environmental issues that they broadcast. Only 12 of the media outlets use the social media (42.85%) to disseminate climate issues. The public is actively engaged in climate change communication by media houses through interactive radio programs, invitation of resource persons to deliberate on climate issues, field investigations and reporting of evidences and vulnerabilities of the changing climate and seeking experts to address such concerns.