MTN Cameroon has launched the inaugural Y’ello Press Awards, a new initiative aimed at promoting professionalism, ethics, and innovation in Cameroon’s media industry, particularly within the print press sector.
The award was unveiled on April 30, 2025, during a ceremony in Yaounde attended by government officials, publishers, editors, and journalists, ahead of World Press Freedom Day.
Addressing guests at the event, Wanda Matandela, MTN Cameroon CEO, said the initiative forms part of the company’s broader effort to support a stronger and more sustainable media environment in Cameroon. “We are not only a technology company connecting people, but also a long-term partner in Africa’s development,” Matandela said. “Trusted and professional media are essential for building an inclusive digital future.”
He explained that the awards are one component of a wider media support strategy developed by MTN Cameroon. The program includes Y’ello Kiosk, a digital platform introduced in 2025 to help newspapers distribute content online and generate revenue, as well as a Pan-African Media Innovation Programme focused on training journalists in digital storytelling, mobile journalism, and artificial intelligence.
According to him, the Y’ello Press Awards will recognize excellence in reporting, investigative journalism, ethics, storytelling, and media innovation. “Technology alone cannot create trust. It is people who build trust,” he said. “Supporting journalists means supporting democracy, accountability, and social cohesion.”
Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important step towards restoring professionalism and credibility within the country’s media landscape.
Rene Sadi noted that although media liberalization in the 1990s encouraged freedom of expression and expanded the press sector, it also led to a decline in professional standards in some areas of journalism. “The launch of these awards comes at the right time,” he said. “It reflects a desire from within the profession to promote excellence based on rigorous and objective standards.”
He added that the awards could help reinforce the true meaning of press freedom while strengthening journalism’s role in democracy and public accountability.
Also speaking during the launch, Jean Melvin Akam, General Manager of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs at MTN Cameroon, said the initiative builds on a partnership signed two years ago between MTN Cameroon and FEDIPRESSE.
He highlighted the historical role played by print media during Cameroon’s democratic transition, while acknowledging the challenges newspapers now face in the digital era. “Radio announces, television shows, and print media explain,” he said, stressing the continued importance of in-depth journalism despite growing competition from social media platforms and online content creators. He warned that the rise of misinformation and unverified online content has increased the need for responsible journalism and stronger editorial standards.
Representatives of FEDIPRESSE also emphasized the importance of quality journalism in an age dominated by social media and instant information sharing.
The federation said rebuilding public trust and readership would depend on credible reporting, fact-checking, and adherence to journalistic ethics.
It expressed hope that the Y’ello Press Awards would encourage healthy competition among media houses and contribute to improving journalistic standards across the country.
Concluding the event, Matandela reaffirmed MTN Cameroon’s commitment to supporting trusted journalism in Africa. “Africa’s future will be digital, but it must also be informed, inclusive, and trusted,” he said.
Organizers say details concerning award categories, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines for the 2026 edition of the Y’ello Press Awards will be announced in the coming months.
Comments
Post a Comment