The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is committed to media development and press freedom in South Sudan. In line with this commitment, UNESCO’s Cairo office organized an intensive four-day training workshop for journalists on the topic of conflict-sensitive reporting, in February 2011 in Juba. The aim of the workshop was to equip media practitioners with specific skills and techniques regarded as essential in analyzing conflict and post-conflict related issues in the South Sudan. A total of eighteen journalists, coming from all the ten states of South Sudan attended the course.
Dr Margaret Jjuuko, a media consultant from the University of Rwanda, who led the workshop, discussed with the journalists the role that the media plays as society’s watchdog. Training modules addressed the issues of self-censorship and hate speech, discussed the importance of balanced reporting as well as application of codes of conduct and a human rights based approach, with the aim of guiding the journalists through the stormy waters of post conflict reporting.
“The media has the power to make leaders accountable and exercise good governance in accordance with the rule of law. It is looked at as an entity that will bring hope in today’s society,” Dr Jjuuko explained.
Participants particularly found useful discussions on how to balance conflict-sensitive stories by avoiding the use of sensitive language. The workshop also enabled the journalists to better understand various approaches to reporting in a multilingual and multi-cultural environment and the importance of authenticating sources and verifying information. Practical exercises equipped the participants with the skills to identify weaknesses in the representation, construction and framing of conflict sensitive stories in the news media.
The media sector in South Sudan remains key to strengthening democracy and nation building efforts in the new society. Training in conflict sensitive reporting is designed to play a positive role towards unity and reconciliation, democracy and human rights, sustainable peace and development.