The renowned journalist and journalism trainer bagged the PhD of Philosophy in Information and Communication Sciences at the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC in Yaounde last Friday after successfully defending his thesis.
Celebrated journalist and journalism trainer, Gilles Yumo Nyuydzewira has earned a PhD in Philosophy in Information and Communication Sciences at the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC in the University of Yaounde II. He climbed the academic ladder after successfully defending his thesis in front of a panel of jury at the campus of the mass communication training institution on Friday February 14. His thesis focused on “COVID-19 Media Discourse and Public Perception: The Local Construction of a Social Threat in Cameroon”.
The work examined public perception of Covid-19 media discourse as the local construction of a social threat in Cameroon including the examination of medical students’ understanding of the dominant narratives portrayed in Covid-19 media discourse in Cameroon. The work concluded by notably revealing that the public not only battle with a concerning health threat but had to adjust frequently to real life routines. It among others recommends the putting in place of a cohesive health and crisis communication prototype for the nation and for communication professionals to continuously improve their skills to get ample ready to deal with such global crisis whenever they come up again in future.
The work was supervised by former Director of the Advanced School of Mass Communication, ASMAC Yaounde, Prof Laurent Charles Boyomo who also doubles as a legislator. The jury included Prof Njoya Oudou of the University of Yaounde I as President. Rapporteurs included Prof François Marc Modzom, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Yaoundé II who is also the Director of ASMAC Yaounde and Prof Thomas Atenga of the University of Douala. Prof Mo Luh Yacouba of the University of Yaounde II was a member.
Motivated by disturbing chaos
Speaking in an interview after the defense, Dr Gilles Yumo revealed that he was motivated to carry out the research on the topic due to the unprecedented manner in which the Covid-19 pandemic crippled several sectors of human live, leading to confusion in multiple areas. Among them, the Cameroonian media space. The journalism lecturer said the health crisis which first hit the world in late 2019, highlighted the need for professionals like those in the media industry and governments to put in place measures that will prevent them from falling into traps of getting completely confused. “It was a health pandemic. It is a health issue presently. And the objective of the work is that the media was not prepared to have such a pandemic.
So, one of the recommendations is how the media can better prepare itself because they will be more issues to come,” Dr Gilles Yumo stated. “We need to come out with a prototype in which we can handle health communication crisis. We hope that we will be in a better position to solve these basic problems before they happen,” he added, citing the need for the involvements of policy experts and other key actors. The journalism trainer said communication professionals will need to join the trend by equipping themselves with skills capable of helping them during major issues.
He said that can be achieved if the communication experts prioritize engaging in consistent capacity building schemes on multiple specific areas. “…The work also presents the need for journalists to have to train themselves on thematic issues that have to do with disinformation, misinformation, surrounding typical issues in the society especially the health issue that we are talking about. And at the end of the day, we are going to have a better society,” Dr Gilles Yumo recommended.
Brief zoom into PhD thesis
Dr Gilles Yumo’s PhD thesis focused on examining public perception of Covid-19 media discourse as the local construction of a social threat in Cameroon. Specific objectives targeted included the examination of medical students’ understanding of the dominant narratives portrayed in Covid-19 media discourse in Cameroon, the extent to which medical students view political actors influence in Covid-19 Media discourse in Cameroon and to investigate from the perception of medical students and the contribution of media discourse in the circulation of Covid-19 fake news. The work among others concluded that “not only did the public battle with a concerning health threat, they had to adjust frequently to real life routines” as a result of the health crisis and also “…rely on daily media discourse to make health or not informed decision
Methodology
The methodology used during the work included a research design using a quantitative and qualitative approach using survey and semi structured interview. It also involved data analysis.
Recommendations
Recommendations arrived at by the work notably suggested that “The Cameroon government through the executive, legislative and judiciary should develop a cohesive health and crisis communication prototype for the nation” and that “Journalists must intensify their decision-making process towards sensitive health issues like Covid-19 and the others in the future”.It equally recommended that “For further studies, research should be carried on media discourse and Health Crisis decision making among media professionals. The focus on the research today was on the Covid-19 media discuss,” This research underscores the need for good decision making, authentic communications that helps the public understand what to do in a crisis situation.
Dr Yumo dedicated to continue impacting lives
According to the researcher, he will use his latest qualification to continue striving as a media expert that is fully committed to impact lives across different fields. Dr Gilles Yumo said he will continue tapping motivation from the ever-blowing passion that guided him through during his PhD research exercise where he bridged several barriers to finally get to the top. “After a successful defense, the next chapter of my career is to keep making a positive impact in media development, health communication and crisis communication with solution orientation. Additionally, more publications from articles to books are next in line,” the renowned media professional and trainer stated. “Every PhD fellow will agree that the hardest part of the program is often the ability to maintain and sustain yourself by self-motivation. You start a PhD because you’re passionate about a subject matter. Personally, I was able to overcome these challenges because I am not only a team person but an independent researcher,” he emphasized.
