South Sudan needs a vibrant media to prosper as a viable democratic state
By Philip Thon Aleu, Juba, South Sudan
December 04, 2015 (SSB) – Over the last ten years, South Sudanese have been endeavouring to establish independent media outlets but several of them, if not all, have failed to deliver on their objectives.
The defaulted newspapers, The Citizen, is considered to be mother of independent print press in South Sudan – having been operating in Juba since 2006. Several other newspapers mushroomed the market since 2005. Some of them have ceased publication voluntarily.
Others, like The Citizen newspaper, are forced to close down by the government security agencies. The unanswered question is whether these newspapers have delivered at all on their objectives?
The UN funded Radio Miraya, USAID sponsored Eye Radio that reach many towns in the country and about thirty or more other FM stations across the country have equally played critical role in informing, educating and entertaining our societies. Most states in Equatori and Bahr Al Ghazal regions have made a tremendous stride in this area.
This has not happened in my region of Upper Nile. And so when there are several community feuds over minor differences, ignorance, due to information gap, is a factor. People rely on rumours, often spread by politicians with personal interests, as source of information. If Radio Miraya or Eye Radio cover your area and therefore you assume to be getting first-hand information, you are missing something.
Every community needs a community radio to discuss local issues. A fight over a congested borehole is not newsworthy to Eye Radio or Radio Miraya unless someone is dead. But it would be a big news in the village where it occur because children may not go to school on that day due to fear of reprisal attacks.
Issues like girls being beaten by village boys for dating ‘wrong boys’ and gender based violence due to drunkenness would definitely be a leading news in a town where this is common. Radio Miraya or VOA’s South Sudan in Focus that reach covers national news will not take that story. Several local issues are certainly being ignored due to lack of community radios.
At a nation context, a vibrant media is a backbone for democracy and ensures that political leaders are held to account for their actions. Tracking politicians’ records on false promises and misappropriation of public funds is only possible when there is a vibrant media.
One trainer told us, a team of South Sudanese journalists being trained in Nairobi, Kenya, this week that South Sudan indeed lacks a vibrant media. This is a big challenge to individual journalist and media owners who are clued to making profit than developing a respected media industry.
I have worked with several local newspapers and radio stations – often for a very short period of time, and I would conclude with confidence that a lot is desired. I have also decided not to take any new offer from local newspapers or radio stations.
There should be a clean watchdog to hold political, religious and business leaders accountable.
The government, on the other hand, is a key player in ensuring protection of journalists and opinion writers. No country will unite, leave in peace or develop without a vibrant media.
It is a responsibility for journalists, media owners and government to achieve that viable country.
A vibrant press, I would say, is the media outlet which does not end at covering meetings, functions and press releases but investigate and analyze given information and actions. Today in Juba, no newspaper will publish investigative story or critical opinion on the actions of the government. It called a red line.
And so we have stories of president traveling abroad and returning home; meeting Mr. X or Y for diplomatic or security or whatever issues treated as big news. Whatever news that appear on SSTV, South Sudan Radio is oftened repeated by the so-called independent media and treated as public interest story.
That ought to change. The international partners, who have been supporting government and private media, should also consider funding outside the box.
Philip Thon Aleu is a South Sudanese journalist. Email: thonphaleu2006@yahoo.com
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