NPC-SS Commemorates World Press Freedom Day (WPFD); Advocates for Independent Media in South Sudan

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Juba, May 8, 2024 – The National Press Club-South Sudan (NPC-SS) has successfully concluded a momentous event in honor of World Press Freedom Day on May 6. Under the theme “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of Environmental Crisis,” the event, supported by USAID through IREX, brought together a diverse group of over thirty participants from esteemed institutions such as the University of Juba, Stafford International University, and MDI, as well as representatives from secondary schools, civil society, the media, and strategic partners.

The occasion was marked by compelling speeches from notable figures, including the esteemed Dean of the School of Journalism, Media, and Communication Studies at the University of Juba, Dr. Rebecca Lorins who highlighted the university’s unwavering commitment to producing competent journalists despite the challenges posed by limited press freedom in South Sudan. She called upon media organizations and partners to join forces with the institution in pursuit of this noble goal.
Recognizing the harsh realities faced by journalists; IREX representative, Linet Omwange acknowledged the precarious nature of press freedom in South Sudan where journalists grapple with constant threats, intimidation, and pervasive censorship. However, she emphasized the transformative power of accessible media, stating, “Accessible media should serve as a secure space for civil society and a platform for freedom of expression for human rights defenders.” She further emphasized the significance of radio and audio formats in local languages as effective channels for education, particularly considering the high illiteracy rates in South Sudan.
In a rallying call to emerging journalists, she urged them to remain steadfast in providing accurate information on the pressing issue of the environmental crisis, both within South Sudan and beyond.
Meanwhile, the USAID Director for Democracy and Governance underscored the importance of commemorating World Press Freedom Day, asserting that press freedom stands as a vital pillar of democracy. “Press freedom is one of the strongest foundations of a robust democracy,” he declared, emphasizing that without press freedom, a viable democracy cannot thrive.
Driven by a shared vision, NPC-SS, along with support from IREX, UNESCO, and other valued partners, remains steadfast in its commitment to establishing a resilient, sustainable, and independent media landscape in South Sudan.
During a panel discussion, Josephine Achiro, Chairperson of AMDISS, expressed her profound gratitude for the opportunity presented to students, stating, “This is an unprecedented chance that I never had during my university days. Today, I am elated because as students, you have access to this invaluable knowledge at an early stage.”

She encouraged all participants to harness the information gained during the event to elevate their journalism  practice and make a lasting impact.

Participants pose for group photo

Participants attending to presentation

“‍‍‍Journalists and Media are vital components of Democracy,” NPC-SS Program Coordinator.

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Juba, April 29, 2024 – The National Press Club-South Sudan program coordinator, Mr. Poverty Alfred was hosted by Radio Bakhita in a live Radio talk show on the Peace Forum Program.

The talk show which was slotted by Chuol Juany (host) under the topic “Importance of Press freedom in promoting Democracy in South Sudan’ took place on April 27 as a pre-event for the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2024.

During the talk show, Mr. Alfred urged the government to protect journalists and media houses as they carry their work, saying journalists are not enemies. “Journalists should never be treated like enemies as they too contribute to the country’s development through the stories and publications they have on the media.”

Alfred further elaborated that media and journalism are vital components of democracy and can play invaluable roles in the pursuit for a democratic process, especially when their rights and freedoms are granted.

He emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and it is provided for in the country’s constitution, the regional and international treaties.

Alfred’s call for press freedom and protection of Journalists and media comes as a compliment to the activities of the NPC-SS.

The Nation Press Club-South Sudan has devoted significant efforts towards the realization of Press Freedom and the establishment of sustainable, robust and vibrant media presence in South Sudan. Through our partners (UNESCO, IREX, among others) and in collaboration with other Media organizations, we pledge to scale up our efforts towards the attainment of Press Freedom in South Sudan.

Poverty Alfred, NPC-SS program Coordinator,

Poverty Alfred (R), Chuol Juany (M) and Aisha Mundwa (L)

NPC-SS concludes Two-day Workshop for C.E.S Parliamentarians

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Juba, March 29, 2024 -The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) successfully concluded a two-day capacity-building workshop for CES parliamentarians aimed to enhance the parliamentarians’ understanding of media laws, freedom of expression, access to information, safety, and role of journalists.

The workshop, held under the theme “Together we build a Pluralistic and Independent Media presence in South Sudan,” covered various topics including international and national legal frameworks for freedom of expression and media, limitations on freedom of expression, human rights, journalism ethics, safety of journalists (with a focus on female journalists), and digital safety.
During the closing session, Hon. Benjamin Satiro, representative of Male participants expressed gratitude to NPC-SS and UNESCO for organizing the training, emphasizing the relevance of the acquired knowledge. The female participants also appreciated the workshop, stating that it provided valuable insights they were previously unaware of.
The Chairperson of Information for CES TLA acknowledged the workshop’s benefits, requesting that similar trainings be extended to leaders at both the state and national levels.
Hon. Peter Wani, the speaker of CES TLA, expressed gratitude for the knowledge gained and urged NPC-SS and UNESCO to arrange further workshops and trainings outside the country to empower stakeholders and citizens of Central Equatoria State and South Sudan.
The workshop attended by about 30 parliamentarians, was highly productive and effective due to active participation from participants and the expertise of notable individuals such as Justice James Alala, Prof. Chaplain Kara, and others.

NPC-SS, with support from UNESCO and other stakeholders, will continue organizing workshops and events to establish a pluralistic and independent media presence in South Sudan.

Participants attending to presentation

Participants attending to presentation

NPC-SS opens Two-day workshop for C.E.S Parliamentarians

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Juba, March 27, 2024 – The National Press Club-South Sudan (NPC-SS) has started a two-day Capacity-building workshop for Central Equatoria State Parliamentarians.

Supported by UNESCO, the event aimed at developing the capacity of state lawmakers on Freedom of Expression, Access to Information, Safety of Journalists, and understanding of the Role of Journalists.
During the opening, UNESCO’s country representative, Mr. Julius Banda said “Freedom of Expression is the drive of all the development goals.” He challenged the lawmakers to ensure their laws were consistent and based on international standards.
Julius lamented that the largest number of children are out of school, saying, “In South Sudan, we have an ironic education; more children are at home than in school,” adding that 2.2 million children attend school while 2.8 million are out of school.
On his part the speaker of the CES parliament lauded UNESCO and NPC-SS for making the trainings possible. He challenged the participants to pay keen attention to the training and use the knowledge to benefit the people of Central Equatoria State and South Sudan.
The speaker also called upon UNESCO and NPC-SS to continue funding and organizing the invaluable trainings.
Bullen Kenyi Wani, NPC-SS Chairperson emphasized the essence of training law makers and law enforcers on media freedom, adding that NPC-SS with support from UNESCO and other stakeholders is committed to making such relevant trainings possible, especially as the country prepare for it’s elections.

The two-day workshop which brought together 30 Hon. Members would end on March 28, 2024 after an indepth facilitation from experts such as Prof. Chaplain Kara Yakoju and Justice Justin Alala.

Workshop for CES parliamentarians, Participants’ group photo

Workshop for CES parliamentarians, Participants attending to presentations

NPC-SS Executive Director among high-level delegates to Liberia.

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Mr. James Ochaya Philip, executive director of National Press Club-South Sudan,  was among the South Sudan delegation on a mission to Monrovia, Liberia.

The mission was organized and spearheaded by the United Nations Women (UN Women) aimed to engage delegates in several learning activities; meeting different Liberian counterparts on the Transitional Reform Process and election, among others.
The high-level delegation has drawn participants from various institutions including the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (NTLA), Academia, Women Block, Civil Society, and the Media.
NPC-SS in the personality of the executive director, Mr. Ochaya is among the media organizations nominated by UN Women to join the mission.
NPC-SS with other partners will continue to exert efforts in building an independent, Pluralistic, and robust Media Presence in South Sudan while advancing the gender agenda.

First published on March 26, 2024

Ochaya(L) and other delgates posing for a photo

National Press Club-South Sudan participates in a seminar on Enhancing Access to Information and Elections Reporting

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Juba, March 20, 2024 – The National Press Club-South Sudan (NPC-SS) joined other partners in a two-day seminar on access to information and elections reporting on the 19, and 20 March 2024

Structured by JICA; UNESCO, and the Information Commission, the event aimed to consolidate efforts for creating a conducive environment for free, fair, and democratic elections. Centered on enhancing the relationship between the National Elections Commission (NEC) and Journalists for a credible and timely flow of information, it also sought to reinforce the capacity of the NEC by drawing extensive experiences from the Institute of Japanese Elections System and Administration.
Under the themes: “Enhancing access to Information and Elections reporting” for the first and second days, the seminar expounded more broadly on the purpose; of clarifying the challenges that are hampering the access to essential information needed for a democratic state, to develop a common understanding concerning how to improve the situations and what to be done by each stakeholder, to share experiences of elections reporting and cooperation between NEC and Mass Media in Japan, and to identify, analyze and discuss challenges and possible solutions for the cooperation between NEC and Mass Media in South Sudan.

Present during the seminar were the Ministry of Information, the Media Authority, Information Commission, the National Elections Commission, State High Elections Committees, Journalists, Media organizations, UNESCO and JICA.

NPC-SS concludes Two-Day T.O.T to Promote Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists

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BOR, Jongolei State; February 16, 2024 – The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) completed a two-day Training of Trainers (T.O.T.) on freedom of expression, access to information and safety of journalists for law enforcement agencies in Jongole state to equip them with the necessary knowledge to uphold freedom of expression, improve communication with the media, and ensure the safety of journalists.

The event brought together key stakeholders to address concerns regarding clashes between journalists and security forces during their work. Notable figures from the Jongolei state government delivered remarks during the closing session, emphasizing the impact of the workshop on state development
Maj. Gen Elia Kosta, the Commissioner for Police, commended UNESCO and NPC-SS for conducting the crucial training in Jongolei state. He expressed optimism for improved relations between journalists and security forces, stating, “I hope that there is going to be a change between us and the media so that we can work together.” Highlighting the value of additional knowledge and expertise gained from the workshop, Maj. Gen Kosta encouraged the police officers to implement the additional knowledge acquired from the training.
Deng Goi, Director of the Ministry of Peace Building, Jongolei state commended the selection of participants and urged that future trainings should consider gender balance. Goi also reinforced that the trainees should apply their newfound knowledge, “As you are going out from here, go and implement what you have learned,” he said. furthermore, he expressed the need for journalists to be well-informed about media laws and ethics while calling for trust between journalists and security officers in the state.
On his part, Mohammed Chuol, Director General of the Ministry of Information in Jongolei state stressed the significance of implementing the training, and called for increased capacity-building efforts for journalists and police, particularly in ethical reporting. He proposed collaborative efforts between journalists and security personnel to share information and build trust. The Director General suggested that cases involving journalists should be reported to the ministry before any arrests can be made, saying it allow clarification and discussion.
The TOT training, facilitated by experienced media veterans including Nicola Mandil and Oliver Modi Philip, covered various pertinent topics such as international legal frameworks, fostering freedom of expression, and effective communication between journalists and the police.

The collaborative initiative between NPC-SS, law enforcement agencies, and UNESCO aims to enhance professionalism and strengthen the relationship between the media and the police in South Sudan.

T.O.T Participants pose for group photo

Listeners Club beat Radio Presenters in a friendly football match.

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Wau, February 14, 2024 – NPC South Sudan with support from USAID through the IREX SIMA project held a friendly match between the Radio Presenters Club and the Radio Listeners Club on 13, February 2024, in Wau as part of the World Radio Day celebration.
The match which ended 3:0 in favor of the Radio listener’s club was played at SALAM football ground, Wau. It was aimed at bolstering the relationship between the Radio listeners (Wau community) and the Radio presenters and managers.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, NPC-SS Executive Director, Mr. Ochaya James said the football match was organized to promote social cohesion between Radio presenters and Radio listeners in Wau.
James expressed sincere thanks to the community of Wau for their support to the Radio and journalists in Western Bahr-el Gazal saying, that without their contribution, the Radio and journalists would mean nothing.
He urged the journalists and listeners to use the opportunity of World Radio Day as an avenue for renewing their commitment to always educate, entertain, and inform the citizens with accurate, reliable, and credible information to maintain trust.
The Executive Director also extended warm thanks to USAID and IREX for the financial support and for choosing NPC-SS as a trusted implementing partner for the SIMA project. “I also want to thank our partners USAID and IREX for having supported our ideas that led to the success of this activity; without them, this activity would not be possible.”
Mr. James reaffirmed NPC-SS’s commitment to continue supporting the media development agenda in South Sudan and pledged to work with different stakeholders to achieve the vision of creating a conducive working environment for media personnel and journalists in South Sudan.
Sports remain the most powerful tool with the potential to create and sustain peaceful relationships; NPC-SS has used sports on different occasions and times to create social cohesion between different entities, and it remains an invaluable tool to enhance peaceful coexistence.

Celebrating the Power of Radio: NPC-SS Supports UNESCO in Commemoration of World Radio Day in Bor

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Bor, Jongolei State, February 13, 2024 – the National Press Club-South Sudan (NPC-SS) joined hands with UNESCO to commemorate World Radio Day at the Park Palace Hotel in Bor, Jongolei State. The event brought together media professionals, government representatives, and experts in the field to discuss the challenges and potential of radio in South Sudan.

 

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Poverty Alfred, the representative of the National Press Club-South Sudan, underscored the significant impact of radio in the country’s history. He called for dialogue and open discussions to address the issues between journalists and security forces.

Alfred emphasized that fostering a good relationship between journalists and the security forces would lead to the development of the media industry, improve the quality and accuracy of information, and ultimately contribute to the overall development of South Sudan. He reiterated that journalists are not enemies but messengers whose role is to disseminate information to the public.
Ms. Doreen Loboka, the senior communication officer for UNESCO, urged the government to create an enabling civic space for people to freely express their opinions, especially as the country was heading towards general elections. She emphasized the effective use of radio by the government to communicate its expectations to the people.
Loboka emphasized the importance of embracing both government and private media, as they both play vital roles in building a democratic government.
Maj. Gen Elias Kosta, the spokesperson for the Jongolei State Police, acknowledged the potential for misunderstandings between the media and the police due to inaccurate information. He called for mutual understanding and highlighted the need to recognize the contributions of police officers working in media organizations.
Kosta urged media organizations to consider awarding police officers who are involved in journalistic work and to focus on highlighting the positive aspects of the police’s work to educate the public.
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National Press Club Celebrates World Radio Day in Wau

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Wau: February 13, 2024 – The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) in South Sudan joined the global community in celebrating World Radio Day. The event, organized by the National Press Club with support from USAID funding through IREX, took place at the Rose Hotel in Wau, Western Bhar El Gazal state.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. David John, the Director General of the Ministry, commended the NPC and IREX for their unwavering support to the people of Western Bhar-el-Gazal State, particularly in Wau. He expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by NPC-SS and IREX in organizing this significant activity for the fourth time in Wau.
Mr. David emphasized that the State Government alone cannot adequately support journalists and media workers in Western Bhar-el-Gazal. However, with the assistance of partners like NPC-SS, through their donor USAID, and IREX, he expressed optimism for progress in the media environment.
He urged journalists to adhere to ethical standards and principles, providing citizens with reliable and accurate information, especially as the country approaches crucial periods of elections and constitution-making processes.
Mrs. Delphina Roba, the Deputy Chairperson of NPC-SS, explained that World Radio Day (WRD) was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2011 and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. The chosen date, February 13, commemorates the creation of United Nations Radio in 1946.
“As we celebrate a century of radio informing, entertaining, and educating, it is an opportunity to recognize the extensive virtues and ongoing power of this medium,” Mrs. Roba stated. She noted that radio is statistically popular and highly trusted by the public, but faces challenges from digital platforms, social media, generational divides, censorship, and economic hardships.
Meanwhile, Mr. James Deng Dimo, the NPC-SS coordinator in Western Bhar-El-Gazal, expressed gratitude to the NPC-SS Juba office for selecting Wau as the location for celebrating World Radio Day. He emphasized the importance of radio in creating awareness, informing citizens about current affairs, and promoting peaceful coexistence and reconciliation in society.