Post date: May 09, 2013 2:44:39 PM
The media in South Sudan is seeking direction amid challenges facing Africa's newest country emerging from a protracted war against the Arab north which killed over 2 million people and displaced hundreds of thousands.
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN (RECENT) (UNMISS) - Nhial Bol, a newspaper editor and media entrepreneur in South Sudanhas been in business for the over eight years. His first newspaper went into circulation soon after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the two-decade war in 2005.
Today it is the only daily paper in the country and is enjoying market monopoly selling 8,000 copies countrywide.In 2012, Bol and his colleagues expanded the business by launching Citizen Television.
But Bol says the journey has not been easy for him and his team of reporters because South Sudan has no clear cut regulatory framework for journalists and media practitioners.
"When we talk of speaking from journalists perspective, yes there is a concern because most of our journalists they do not know how to express themselves. And this has been a problem because you have to express yourself within the limits of rule, within the limits of ethics so what we need more for us to secure this freedom is this training," said Bol.
Radio has been and still remains the main source of information for most citizens inSouth Sudan with more than 30 radio stations on air across the country - many set up by churches and community organisations backed by international donors.
South Sudan dropped 12 places in a recent ranking to 124 in press index byReporters Without Borders out of 180 countries ranked. The recent ranking is related partly to the heavy handed tactics used by security forces in dealing with journalists, the organisation said.
The issue of helping journalists grow their abilities and develop media in South Sudan has been linked to the overall development of the country.
The UN is currently working with local institutions to help train professionals.
"The capacity of the media practitioners, the professionals is not matching the international levels. You have a lot of challenges in this new country.... educational challenges, infrastructure. So one of the main priorities that we are looking at now is building the capacity of the media practitioners in general. So we are working with the University of Juba trying to review the curriculum of the school of Journalism so that we bring this to a professional level to allow a better calibre of professionals in the sector and at the same time embed the basic principles of safety," said Salah Khaled, UNESCO Representative to South Sudan.
A media bill is currently being discussed at the National Assembly to create guidelines for the functioning of journalists in the country. It is hoped that a common ground will be reached to see the media in the world's newest country develop positively.