National Press Club trains journalists to report on climate change

Chairperson of the Board of NPC-SS Bullen Kenyi Yatta

Bor, Jonglei State| January 18, 2023:The National Press Club-South Sudan (NPC-SS) with funding from UNESCO conducts a three-day training workshop on Crisis and Disaster Response and Management at Park Palace Hotel in Bor town, Jonglei State.

 

The training workshop brought together twenty journalists (15 male and 5 female) working for Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM, The Voice of Reconciliation 98.4 FM, and freelancers corresponding from Jonglei State.

Addressing the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the Board of NPC-SS Bullen Kenyi Yatta describes the media as a weapon for development and social change. “When it [media] is used well, we shall realize a better change and development in our society,” Bullen said.

“Climate change is a global crisis not only in South Sudan. We in Africa are suffering the most, and this necessitates the training of journalists to report on climate change. You should be called climate change journalists because you will be reporting on the impact of climate change in South Sudan. Your job will be to keep our communities informed and receive credible information. You’re not only journalists for Jonglei State, but you are working for the whole of South Sudan,” he emphasized.

Speaking on his part, the Chairperson of Jonglei State Relieve and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) Mr. Mading Agueth Deng says climate change affects livestock and people. “It is not only climate change, the cattle raiding practice is a common phenomenon that journalists have to report about and create more awareness on its impact on our society,” Agueth stressed.

Hon. Agueth appeals to journalists to remain objective and ethical when reporting on climate change and cattle raiding and other negative vices in the state, especially early child marriages in the country.

On his part, the State Minister of Information and Communication Hon. John Samuel Manyuon, who was also the guest of honor at the training workshop, challenged the journalists to not only report on the negative instances happening in the state.

 

“Most journalists only focus on the negative part of what is happening in the state and what the government does and doesn’t, but there is a need to do more beyond the negative. There are positive things that journalists also have to report about,” Samuel said.

 

“The journalists should also be trained in the constitution-making process and other areas to increase their skills. It is through journalism that the government gets information on the needs of our communities to accelerate service delivery,” he added.

 

The minister calls on the NPC-SS to work with UJOSS and AMDISS to continue enhancing the capacity of journalists to help the ministry of information and communication to make crucial information accessible to communities in remote areas.

He further emphasizes that journalists need to be professional and ethical in their work to ensure that the public is able to access credible information.

The training is part of NPC-SS’s endeavors to capacitate journalists to report ethically on crises caused by climate change and other disasters in the country.

Chairperson of the NPC-SS Board of Directors visits Bor town to engage the state authorities to support media freedom and access to information

 

Photo-NPC-SS Chairperson Bullen Kenyi was accompanied by Program Coordinator Poverty Alfred and Delphina Roba, the head of the Department of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies, University of Juba

 

Bor, Jonglei State, 17 January 2023.

NPC-SS Chairperson Bullen Kenyi Yatta held fruitful talks with the State Minister of Information, Hon. John Samuel Manyuon, in Bor town, Jonglei State with support from UNESCO.
The meeting centered on engaging the state government to support press freedom, access to information, and creating an enabling media environment in the state.
Minister John Samuel appreciated the NPC-SS delegation, accompanied by the representative of the University of Juba Delphina Roba, for paying him a courtesy visit to discuss media issues in the state.
Minister Samuel commended NPC-SS for endeavoring to build the capacity of journalists in Jonglei State to disseminate accurate information on disasters to the masses in the state and beyond.
He said his ministry has a lot of challenges in the capacity building of press secretaries to communicate accurate information to the media about the activities of the government.
On his side, Bullen Kenyi affirmed the NPC-SS’s readiness to incapacitate journalists and press secretaries in the state to help the public to access information from diverse government institutions.
Bullen Kenyi disclosed that NPC-SS would on Wednesday 18 January conduct a training workshop for journalists and media organizations on crisis and disaster response and management.
Jonglei State is among the states devastated by floods, causing waterborne diseases and mass displacement of civil populations from their homes.
NPC-SS Chairperson Bullen Kenyi was accompanied by Program Coordinator Poverty Alfred and Delphina Roba, the head of the Department of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies, University of Juba.

NPC-SS commemorates its second anniversary

The National Press Club of South Sudan [NPC-SS] will be celebrating its second anniversary on the 14th of December 2022.

Looking back at our performance in the past almost two years, the organization has considerably succeeded in achieving some of its objectives, especially in the area of training.

The NPC-SS conducted a number of capacity-building training workshops, both here in Juba and in the states; Yei, Wau, Yirol, DutPadiet, Kwajok, and in Juba.

 

We want to acknowledge our gratitude to our partners who morally and financially supported these training workshops, thus making the club able to achieve some of its objectives. Here are some of our partners that supported NPC-SS training and other programs:

 

The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan supported the monitoring of the human rights violations; the commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day of May 2022; the training of editors and columnists on hate speech, and is now financing a symposium on media and freedom of expression.

 

UNESCO has been supporting most of our training programs, both in Juba and in the states.

The UN organization notably supported the organization of a football match between the NPC-SS and the National Security Service of South Sudan [NSS]. The sport was aimed at creating a good relationship between the journalists and the security personnel. It is worth noting that the creation of a good working relationship with members of the security organs is one of the objectives of the National Press Club of South Sudan. This is done through the organization of awareness conferences and sports.

UNESCO also supported joint activities organized by the NPC-SS and the University of Juba’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication Studies {SJMCS}, after the two signed a memorandum of understanding to work in collaboration with one another.

 

The memorandum has created a good working relationship between SJMCS and NPC-SS. Most of the training workshops had been facilitated by some staff members from the University of Juba, SJMCS, notably Prof. Dr. Chaplain Kara Yokoju, Prof. Dr. Geri Raimondo, Mr. Nichola Mondili from Stafford University, and Mss Delphina Roba, among others.

 

IREX has also supported the club in its training efforts, in areas of psycho-social management, physical safety, and digital security; training that is necessary for our setting in South Sudan, where there is a high number of traumatized people, and safety challenges.

Indeed, our partners have grown in number; these include the Canadian and British embassies in Juba.  We, too, appreciate the participation of the government, at both national and state levels, in our activities. We do not forget the South Sudanese media institutions, AMDISS, UJOSS, FJN, and the media houses in Juba for the good working relationship that we share with them.

 

However, much is still desired considering the bulky needs of training and other needs for our journalists in South Sudan.

South Sudan is a country that has experienced wars for so long and has not had the opportunity to educate its people. It was expected that the next move after signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was to carry out awareness programs simultaneously with the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration [DDR] exercise. This never happened, due to the political unrest and civil war in the country.

 

It is therefore clear that the communities in South Sudan are largely rudimentary; one community still considers the other as an enemy. They do not think in terms of a nation, but on ethnic lines. In this case, they can easily be manipulated by anybody, especially those from their own ethnicity. This explains the chronic intercommunal clashes in South Sudan; in most cases fueled by unscrupulous politicians who want to achieve their personal or group interests in the country.

 

South Sudan’s democracy is still a struggling one. The governance processes appear to be dysfunctional. The country has not been able to deal with vices such as corruption, violence, systematic rape of women and girls, discrimination on ethnic and gender terms, injustice, human rights abuses, and lack of political and civil space.

 

The country has witnessed recurring peace talks with the little achievement of peace for the citizens. The South Sudanese deeply need peace, and peace is only possible when the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people are respected, and they are allowed to participate in the decision-making processes, equitable distribution of resources and benefits, accessibility of justice, and gender equity are guaranteed among the citizens.

 

This calls for the strengthening of the media and the civil society organizations at large to conduct capacity-building, trust-building, and awareness programs through civic education, among the entire citizens of South Sudan, including journalists. NPC-SS believes that all citizens should be involved in the shaping of their own lives in the country.

 

There is a link between democratic governance and human development. Countries can promote human development for all only when they have governance systems that are fully accountable to all people, and when all people can participate in the debates and decisions that shape their lives.

 

Experience has shown that there is no shortcut to development without respecting fundamental human rights; civil society activism, press freedom, and political freedom.

Development and good governance are interlinked.

 

The task for the media and the civil society organizations is huge and requires a helping hand from our partners, and concerted efforts from the internal non-governmental and non-profit-making organizations in the country.  We count on our partners to continue supporting the media and other civil society organizations in order to build a vibrant civil society in South Sudan for the realization of peace in this country.

As we reflect on the anniversary of the NPC-SS, we hope our working relationship with our partners and the media organizations will continue so that we achieve more and more of our objectives in our service to the people of South Sudan.

We hope the year 2023 will be a year of peace and development in South Sudan.

 

Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

US Embassy urges for protection of Journalists

Juba- At the opening remarks of a one-day media symposium, the Public Affairs Officer of the US Embassy in South Sudan, Mr. Moulik Berkana, called on the government to protect and safeguard the work of journalists in the country without any interference during their work.

“I call on the government to deliver protection and support to the journalists in the republic of South Sudan to have the right to express their profession without harassment, arbitrary detention and arrest, journalist play an important role in a democratic society.” Said Berkana.

Since South Sudan become independent in July 2011, security forces have regularly intimidated and unlawfully arrested or detained journalists and this has topics come to an end so that journalists and the media are able to do their job freely to serve the citizens with the required information on diverse issues.

Participants at the event posing during a group photo at the opening session on December 16, 2022, at Landmark hotel in Juba

Nevertheless, the Chairperson of the National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) board of directors, Mr. Bullen Kenyi, applauds partners for their support of the organization and the journalists who turn up for the one-day Symposium.

He said that freedom of expression is not only for the media but for everyone in every country. The president of the union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) Mr. Oyet Patrick said there is an improvement in the cooperation between journalists and security personnel compared to some years back when security personnel could come and arrest journalists.

 

Mr. Patrick assured that now there is no journalist who is in Jail or prison in the country. He further added that there is one journalist who was arrested in Warrap state, Kuajok. When they inquired from the authorities, they were told that the matter was not related to his journalistic work, but the journalist was later released.

At the same event, a police representative, Brig. Hussein David said he is very happy to be invited to the event. He further said the police to reorganize the role of the media in the country when it comes to law and order, the media helps them in addressing a number of crimes.

The guest of honor for the event a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Legislative Council of States, Hon: Paulino Lokudu, Said the National Legislature reorganizes the role of the media because the media is the bridge between the citizens and the government.
He stressed that freedom of expression is a constitutional right and must be respected in the country.

The Media Symposium was organized with the aim of enhancing freedom of expression and access to information and drew more than 50 journalists, media managers, members of the diplomatic corps, and journalism students from the University of Juba
The event was marked under the theme: “Promote Press Freedom and Media Independence to enhance Democracy in South Sudan.

The report was filed by Mr. Kajokare Santos Evans.

 

 

 

NPC-SS, SJMCS Organize capacity building workshop

A group photo of the participants including facilitators and CSOs, media, and academics after the opening session at Landmark hotel Juba

 

With support from UNESCO, the National Press Club NPC South Sudan in collaboration with the University of Juba has organized a training workshop on Media and Information Literacy that aims to develop the ability of journalists to think critically and analysis any information before dissemination to the public.

The two-day training workshop was held between the 28th-29th of November in Juba Landmark Hotel Juba South Sudan, under the theme: “Nurturing Trust Media and Information Imperative”.

The two-day workshop was officially opened by the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Moyiga K. Nduru. The commissioner acknowledged the role of media in the country, especially in civic education. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to build the capacity and strengthen the media institutions, and their legacy. “We should leave no person behind; it is time to think of issues of Media and Information Literacy,” he said. Mr. Nduru said

“Everyone has the right to access to information/knowledge and the right to self-expression. Media and Information Literacy should be for everyone both men & women and is closely related to human rights”, Mr. Julius Banda, the country representative of UNESCO South Sudan, speaking during his opening remarks at a MIL workshop in Juba.

 

Mr. Julius Banda, the country representative of UNESCO South Sudan, giving his speech during a training workshop on Media and Information Literacy

 

 

UNESCO country representative, South Sudan, Mr. Julius Banda, delivered his key remarks during the opening of the training workshop in Juba.” You can be literate, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are Media and Information literate,” said Prof. Chaplain Kara Yokuju, deputy dean of the School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies-(SJMCS) of the University of Juba.

The chairperson, of the Board of Directors for the National Press Club of South Sudan, Mr, Bullen Kenyi Yatta, told the participant during his opening remarks to take the training seriously. As Journalists Teachers and members of civil society are all promotors of democracy and democracy is built on respect for Human Rights, justice, and the rule of law, therefore, to defend democracy, you’re to have knowledge and skills in your profession.

The two-day workshop ended colorfully after participating and interacting with the facilitators and CSOs, media, and academics. The workshop brought together at least 44 participants that included fourteen females and thirty males to effectively apply and share the knowledge of Media and Information Literacy in the digital world as required by the system.

 

Prof. Chaplain Kara Yokuju during his presentation

The training was facilitated by senior experts from the University of Juba, School of Journalism and Mass Communication Studies: Prof. Chaplain Kara Yokoju and Lecturers Mrs. Yiene Yienki, Dhieu William, and Delphina Roba.

NPC-SS calls for the immediate release of journalist Diing Magot

NPC-SS Gender advisor during a session7 August 2022- JUBA-South Sudan’s police on Sunday arrested a freelance journalist reporting for the Voice of America, Diing Magot, during a protest staged by a group of youth expressing their anger over the hyperinflation in the country.

Journalist Diing Magot is also a gender-policy advisor for National Press Club-South Sudan. She is being detained together with six protestors at Malakia police station awaiting trial. NPC-SS calls for the immediate release of journalist Diing Magot from police custody.
NPC-SS Executive Director Ochaya James visited Diing Magot at Malakia Police Station to follow up on the case and to assure her that she is in our prayers

.Any attack on a journalist is an attack on the media. Journalists are messengers and they deserve the state’s protection from harm.
Covering a protest is not a crime. Therefore, it is the primary responsibility of the government to protect journalists and defend press freedom in the country.

NPC South Sudan Trains Student Journalists on ethics of Journalism

 

As part of Press Club activities through the Student’s Press Club at the University of Juba, NPC South Sudan on Monday organized a two-day Training workshop for Student Journalists to enrich them with practical skills as they endeavor to cover the gap in this noble profession.
In his opening ceremony, the NPC-SS Executive Director Mr. Ochaya James underscored the importance of building the capacity of student journalists to perform better in the field after graduation.
According to him, this particular two-day training is meant to enrich the students with practical skills as they endeavor to cover the gap in this noble profession.
On his part, the UNESCO Education Specialist Tap Raaj appealed to the student journalists to have the courage to practice the profession amid challenges.
He expressed UNESCO’S commitment to continue strengthening its partnership with the National Press Club-South Sudan to support the activities of the club in various universities across the country.
Prof. Chaplain Kara Yokoju, the Deputy Dean of the School of Journalism Media and Communication Studies, encouraged student journalists to read more to understand the ethics of journalism and to inculcate society on current affairs.
At least 25 student journalists drawn from public and private universities are benefiting from the two-day training workshop being organized by the NPC-SS with funds from UNESCO.

 

 

Three-day training workshop on governance, media law, welfare, kick off in Wau

 

The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) has organized a three-day training workshop on governance, media law, welfare, safety, and protection of journalists in the Wau capital of Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State.

 

The workshop brought together participants from the law society, media institutions, law enforcement agencies, and members of civil society to brainstorm on how to uphold press freedom and the safety of journalists in the country.

 

Addressing the participants during the opening ceremony, the NPC-SS Representative, James Deng Dimo stressed the importance of sharing knowledge and experience, crucial to advancing development in the country.

 

He urged the participants to use the opportunity to enrich themselves with skills to contribute to nation-building through the dissemination of accurate information via media.

 

He stressed the need to establish full media structures such as the media appeal board to help in settling media issues in the country.

“There is a delay in establishing the remaining structures mentioned in the Media Authority Act 2013. I believe it is due to a lack of budget.

 

Speaking on his part, the Country Director of UNESCO Julius Banda re-affirmed UNESCO’s commitment to supporting national partners in building the capacity of media workers and other related media institutions to promote freedom of expression and opinion in South Sudan.

 

“UNESCO since the independence of South Sudan has been supporting both government and non-governmental organizations with funds to strengthen their capacity in various areas,” Banda said.

 

The Police Spokesperson in Western Bahr-el-Ghazal State, Captain Guot Guot Akol asserted that South Sudan has very good media laws, but lacks implementation.

 

“I would like to thank the NPC-SS and UNESCO for organizing such kind of training in Wau. So far, I must say this is the first time for me to attend such kind of training which enables us to sit in one place as law enforcement agencies, Journalists, law society, and civil society. This will make us understand media laws and I believe from today if media cases are brought to us as police, we will be able to use the right approach to handle the media issues rightly,” Guot affirmed.

 

He urged the journalists to conduct themselves ethically while reporting issues in society.

 

The two-day training workshop was officially opened by the Acting Minister of Information and Communication who is also the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Hon. Anthony Charles in Wau.

 

Minister Charles encouraged the participants to take the training seriously and use the opportunity to build trust, and confidence and mend the relationship to promote social cohesion in the state.

 

“I wanted to thank NPC-SS for bringing the light to Wau through this series of activities here in our state. Such kind of activities have not been reaching us here in Wau,” Charles said.

 

 

NPC, among other media organizations commemorates world Radio day under the theme “Yes to Radio Trust”

February 17, 2022-JUBA The National Press Club in collaboration with the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), Union of Journalists, and other media houses on Thursday organized a dinner as part of the World Radio Day celebration.
The event drew a number of journalists, media managers, members of the diplomatic community, and Media support organizations as well as academicians to celebrate the positive role of media in educating, disseminating, and informing the public on the current affairs unfolding in the country.
Addressing the event, the Executive Director of NPC-SS Mr. Ochaya James Philip applauded the journalists for working tirelessly in informing and entertaining the public.
Ochaya says radio plays an important role in the peace-making process by creating a platform for the public to share views that contribute to nation-building. He further thanked the UK 🇬🇧 embassy in Juba for their support to the media institutions in the country.
Speaking during the same event, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee Ms. Ayaa Irene, who also doubles as the Principle of MDI and Chairperson of FJN, appealed to media managers to show a strong command of leadership in their newsrooms to shape public opinion.
She urged the media managers to equip journalists with necessary journalistic equipment to produce quality news products.
This year’s event was celebrated at Da Vinci Hotel in Juba where the organizers distributed digital recorders to ten media houses to ease their work.
Ms Ayaa advised the media managers to give the recorders to journalists to cover events in society.
“This equipment must not be taken out of the stations for private use or as personal property. The equipment must be kept at the stations for the journalists to use them,” said Irene.
On his part, the Representative of the UK Embassy in South Sudan Tom Carter affirmed his country’s readiness to promote media freedom in South Sudan.
The Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology, and Postal Services Dr. Jacob Korok acknowledges the positive role being played by media in educating the society, urging the media organizations to work together for the common good of the people of South Sudan.
The recorders and radio sets were distributed to; Akol Yam FM in Northern Bhar El Ghazal State, Radio Wau in Western Bhar El Ghazal State, Nile FM in Upper Nile State, Radio Farmers in Unity State, Voice of Freedom in Eastern Equatoria State, Maridi FM in Western Equatoria State, Voice of Reconciliation in Jonglei State, Yirol FM in Lakes State, Kuajok FM in Warrap State and South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) Radio in Central Equatoria State.
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“Launch of the Student’s Press Club” at the University of Juba

February 10, 2022-JUBA— The National Press Club South Sudan NPC-SS has officially launched the long-awaited Press club activities at the University of Juba School of Journalism Media and communication Studies SJMCS on Thursday. The event aimed to improve and build the courage of those in the school as they get to the profession.
Speaking during the occasion the Deputy Dean of the School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies Prof. Chaplian Kara appreciated the initiative and confirmed the effectiveness of the MoU signed between the University of Juba and the NPC-SS to work together in improving the skills of upcoming journalists in the Country.
On his part, the Country Director of UNESCO Mr. Julius Banda applauds his institutional support to relevant Media Organizations including NPC-SS to conduct their activities in order to build the capacities of the students as they get to the profession.
On the other hand, the representative of the diplomatic mission represented by the Canadian embassy Mrs. Jocelyn expressed the need to continuously advocate for the freedom of expression as a fundamental right for citizens in every country.
The Guest of Honor of the event was the commissioner of access to information commission Hon. Moyiga duru appreciated the importance of the day and related it to the due to be held World Radio Day WRD and urged students to be committed so that they cover the gap in the profession.