Public engagement and judging guidelines
The Pan-African Mental Health Institute (PAMHI) and CamerToday News Project (CTNP) thank all participants who submitted entries for the 2026 Mental Health Reporting Contest. As the competition moves into its next phase, selected entries will be published on the official PAMHI Facebook page to encourage public dialogue, awareness, and engagement around mental health issues affecting communities in Cameroon.
All eligible submissions will be uploaded and promoted across the organisers’ social media platforms during the official engagement period.
Engagement period: June 1, 2026 – June 7, 2026
During this period, audiences are encouraged to:
- Watch the stories
- Share thoughtful comments
- Support impactful reporting
- Engage responsibly with the content
The contest is designed not only to reward creativity and journalism, but also to stimulate meaningful conversations around mental health awareness and community wellbeing.
Scoring framework
To ensure fairness and credibility, the final score will combine 70% judges’ assessment and 30% public engagement. The judging panel will assess entries based the following criteria:
| Criterion | Points |
| Relevance to the theme | 20 |
| Accuracy and quality of reporting | 20 |
| Storytelling and originality | 15 |
| Production quality | 15 |
| Ethical sensitivity and respect for subjects | 15 |
| Public education value / likely impact | 15 |
The official panel of judges will be announced in the coming days.
Public engagement score (30%)
Public interaction will contribute to the final score using the following engagement structure:
| Engagement Metric | Weight |
| Views | 10% |
| Likes | 20% |
| Comments | 30% |
| Shares | 40% |
The contest places greater value on meaningful engagement rather than passive viewing alone. PAMHI and Camer Today reserve the right to investigate suspicious activity, including artificial inflation of views, likes, comments, or shares. Any proven manipulation may lead to disqualification.