On June 8th, Professors Kingsley Lyonga-La Ngange and Stephen Ndode, along with other researchers, unveiled two important books on Mass Communication at the University of Buea’s Amphi 750.
The launch provided a platform for scholars from related fields to review and discuss these significant works.
The first book, Media and Governments at War: An Exploration of the Ferocious Struggle for Dominance in the Marketplace of Ideas, Influence, and Power, authored by Ngange and Ndode, was lauded by Prof. Ta Mbi Nkongho for its role in enlightening the public about their rights. Prof. Nkongho emphasized the critical role of media in holding those in power accountable, stating, “The book is an eye-opener, helping people understand their rights and question government actions. Governments should not be comfortable with the media, as it seeks information and reports on governmental issues.”
This book is structured into six chapters. The first chapter delves into key historical events that have shaped the intricate relationship between media and governments. The second chapter addresses theories that explain this complex relationship, while the third chapter explores the battleground of
media-government conflicts.
Chapter Four, for its part, examines the intensity of these conflicts through over twenty case studies from across six continents. The fifth chapter discusses the ripple effects of media-government wars, and the final chapter contemplates the possibilities for a mutually beneficial future for both media and governments.
The second book, Coverage of Conflicts in Africa: A Multidimensional Analysis of Mass Media Reporting of the Cameroon Anglophone Conflict: 2016-2024, originated from concerns about media coverage of the Cameroonian anglophone crisis. Prof. Ngange, along with his PhD supervisees Dr. Stephen Moki Mokondo and Stephen Ndode, conceived the idea for this book to address these issues.
Prof. Ngange reflected on the media’s role, stating, “The media have played a significant role in framing, escalating, and sustaining the crisis over the past eight years. Thankfully, we are now seeing a more positive role of the media, contributing to a downward trend in the conflict.”
Edited by Kingsley Lyonga-La Ngange, this 408-page book features contributions from twelve authors and is divided into eleven chapters. The introduction covers both conventional and social media reporting during the conflict’s initial years (2016-2017). The second chapter provides a theoretical
perspective on media coverage of conflicts. Chapter Three analyzes the nature and tone of Cameroonian newspaper coverage, focusing on linguistic, cultural, and political differences.
Chapter Four examines media coverage of the Buea Municipal Council, a key conflict epicenter.
Chapter Five discusses the use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in major conflict zone cities, while Chapter Six assesses the role of social media (Facebook) in escalating the conflict.
The seventh chapter explores the challenges faced by journalists and their professional implications, and Chapter Eight analyzes the media’s responsibility in reporting the humanitarian crisis.
Chapter Nine evaluates the conflict’s status through audience assessment, and Chapter Ten suggests ways to enhance journalism training for conflict reporting. The book concludes by examining the future of media coverage of
conflicts in Africa from three perspectives: bleak, blur, and bright, with an optimistic outlook.
About the authors
Kingsley Lyonga Ngange, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Mass Communication and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research Cooperation and Relations with the Business World at the University of Buea, Cameroon. He is also a Fulbright Visiting African Research Scholar at the BrechnerCenter for Freedom of Information, University of Florida, for the 2023/2024 academic year. Ngange previously served as Chair of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Buea.
Stephen N. Ndode, Ph.D., is a Lecturer in Communication and Media Studies, Coordinator of the Communication Research Centre, and Founder and Director of the International Centre for Innovations in Communication Research and Media Training at the University of Buea, Cameroon.
