By Maxcel Fokwen
The recognition, which adds to many others which the award-winning media professional has to his credit, was unveiled in Limbe, Fako Division of the South West Region, on Saturday August 12.
The ceremony was the 2023 edition of the Victoria International Media Merit Award, VIIMMA. The star journalist was disclosed as winner of the Elah Geoffery Prize For Best Print Reporter.
He was represented at the award night by the Fako Bureau Chief of The Guardian Post newspaper, Shing Timothy Mufua.
The singling out of Doh was based on the assessment of members of the VIIMMA award jury, comprised of journalism heavyweights while voting was done by members of the public.
Doh had submitted three articles titled: ‘South West Region: Gov’t restless as clandestine cocoa export to Nigeria stripping state of billions!’; ‘National Assembly: Lawmaking chamber where Biya violates laws!’; and ‘After receiving attributes: Intrigues, backstabbing, lobbying galore as new Senate bureau in view!’
Reacting to news of the award, The Guardian Post Managing Editor, said: “2023 has been an amazing year so far. With its gains and pains, sweet and sweat; I’ve grown, not only professionally but mentally, emotionally and what have you…”.
Doh’s vote of thanks, promise to do more
He also talked of having “received enormous support from my employer, colleagues, friends and the experiences have shaped who I am and what I long to become”.
Doh thanked those who nominated him for the award and others who saw the need for him to submit breathtaking reports, which he has done, for the award.
The international recognition, he said, “is proof you’ve been following my work. I hope I don’t disappoint you all and myself. This is definitely another encouragement to work harder. I’m doing that already…”.
In May 2021, Doh was awarded the 2020 Best Young Journalist Award. This came from The Scoop Media Group. Doh may be young, but he has continued to expand his influence within the journalism landscape nationwide.
The influential journalist made a record-breaking move to The Guardian Post in August 2021 as Desk Editor.
The young journalist has risen through the ranks, serving as Staff Delegate at The Guardian Post. He was named Managing Editor of Cameroon’s most widely read and most regularly published newspaper, The Guardian Post, in January this year.
Retracing Doh’s inspiring journalism journey
The high-quality journalist, with a penchant for investigative journalism, politics and sports reporting, is a trained fact-checker.
Until July 31, 2021, Doh was the Coordinating Editor and Yaounde City Reporter of authoritative bi-weekly newspaper, The Median.
Besides The Median, Doh also worked for Douala-based Balafon Radio as its Yaounde correspondent. The native of Baligham, Santa Subdivision, Mezam Division of the North West Region, has had excellent stints in broadcasting.
The 2016 best trainee of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, JMC, of the University of Buea, UB, developed passion for journalism since 2013.
In 2015, he did voluntary service at the Christian Broadcasting Service, CBS, Buea, while still in school. His mastery of sports got him a part-time job same year at the Word Empowerment Radio, Buea.
Doh also worked at the Lake Site Radio and Ocean City Radio, Kumba. From there, he moved to Bamenda as one of the pioneer broadcasters at the Mediafrique Radio back then.
The multidimensional journalist also served at one time as the Kumba Bureau Chief of The Median newspaper. He equally had a stint with Limbe-based The Info newspaper and Kumba-based The Scoop Media Group, as a stringer.
Doh also spent some time at Equinoxe TV/Radio. Despite his ever-rising influence across the nation’s media landscape, The Guardian Post Managing Editor is also a researcher. He put in three years as office assistant at the Meme branch of state-owned Cameroon Tribune newspaper.
With over eight years of active journalism practice, Doh, many giants in the fourth estate have repeatedly said, and rightly so, is among those who represent the future of the noble profession in Cameroon.
The last weekend’s award, it is now being stated, points to brighter days ahead for the fine journalist.
He is former Secretary General of the Association of Student Journalists in the University of Buea, ASJUB.
He is also a trained humanitarian/peace journalist, under the Cameroon Community Media Network, CCMN and the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC Peace Office.
Doh is the Public Relations Officer of the Cameroon Community Media Network, CCMN, Yaounde Chapter.
He is a fellow of the third cohort of the Africa Fact-checking Fellowship -#AFFCameroon project by #defyhatenow.
He is also a member of the Yaounde Chapter of the Cameroon Association of English-speaking Journalists, CAMASEJ. He has made hard work, dedication, integrity and passion his hallmarks within the slippery media landscape in Cameroon.
