ABSTRACT This paper underlines the relevance of devising an effective legislative framework that sets out the organization of the National Communication Council (NCC), the main media regulator in Cameroon. It argues that the rules and procedures informing the functioning of the NCC should clearly affirm and protect its autonomy. The duties and powers as well as the ways of making the NCC accountable, the procedures for the appointment of its members and the sources of funding should be clearly defined in law. Equally relevant is the prevalence of a culture of independence, transparency and accountability, where lawmakers, government and the public respect the NCC’s independence without being explicitly required to do so by law. Drawing from a critical analysis of the law creating the NCC and complemented with an interview with the NCC chairman, I argue that independent media regulators (NCC) can have democratizing effects, but it can also limit the growth of press freedom, freedom of expression, opportunities for democratic engagement and the pivotal role that it is expected to play in creating a diverse and pluralistic media landscape. Also, public authorities should refrain from using their financial decision-making power to interfere with the independence of regulatory authorities.

中文翻译：

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国家传播委员会：喀麦隆新闻自由和言论自由的机会还是制约？

摘要本文强调了制定有效的立法框架的相关性，该立法框架规定了喀麦隆主要媒体监管机构国家传播委员会（NCC）的组织。它认为，告知NCC运作的规则和程序应明确确认并保护其自治权。法律应明确规定NCC的责任和权力以及使其承担责任的方式，任命其成员的程序以及资金来源。同样重要的是，存在着独立，透明和负责任的文化，在这种文化中，立法者，政府和公众尊重NCC的独立性，而法律并没有明确要求这样做。通过对创建NCC的法律的批判性分析，并辅以对NCC主席的采访，我认为，独立媒体监管机构（NCC）可以产生民主化效果，但它也可能限制新闻自由，言论自由，民主参与的机会以及它在创建多元化和多元化媒体中的关键作用的增长。景观。此外，公共机构应避免利用其财务决策权来干扰监管机构的独立性。