23 December 2021 -In a just-concluded partnership meeting today chaired by UJOSS President Mr. Patrick Oyet, the National Press club South Sudan is looking forward to working with its partners to bring about a conducive working environment for journalists and media practitioners through capacity building activities that are crucial components for a vibrant media in the country

The two institutions have agreed to work together to enhance the capacity of Journalists across South Sudan.

Group Photo of the Participants at Regency hotel Juba

JUBA 24th Nov 2021.  The National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) with support from UNESCO has conducted a two-day capacity building workshop for regulators, media associations, and academia on gender mainstreaming and promotion of gender equality through the media.

The aim of the training was to inform the participants on the improved capacities of regulatory and legislative bodies in support of SDG5 by promoting policies interventions and ethical codes in order to improve gender equality in the media sector.

The journalists were also trained on editorial guidelines for equal representation of both men and women while reporting and balancing stories by using women who are experts among other important issues.

Journalists and media practitioners, civil society groups were empowered with skills to promote gender equality and equal representation of women in and through the media.

The Chairperson of the board of Directors for the National Press club South Sudan, Mr. Bullen Kenyi Yatta, says in South Sudan, many of our institutions are mainly influenced by some cultural norms.

Kenyi further said the media should use gender mainstreaming to promote gender equality in our offices and community.

“Gender mainstreaming is one of the methods or strategies to achieve that and fortunately or unfortunately the dissemination of information about gender inequality greatly lies on the media and therefore we expect that gender mainstreaming should start from our media organizations and our media houses because you cannot advocate for something that is not practiced yourself “, he said.

Mr. Kenyi has urged journalists to take the knowledge from the workshop and be ambassadors in their various media organizations and media houses.

Mr. Patrick Oyet, the President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, has recognized the importance of capacity building in order for the participants to be able to include more women in their reports including those women who are in the grassroots in their native language.

“Capacity building is something that we as the union of journalists think is very important. We believe that all of us have the ability to do great things and that ability can only be enhanced by capacity building for that reason, therefore, this capacity building organized by the national Press club promoted by UNESCO, I think is stepping in the right direction and all of us will also try to build our capacity so that we do our job better “, said Mr. Oyet.

Oyet also recognized the accomplishments of women holding senior positions in the media sector and how this is leading to inclusivity and changing the perception of women not being able to take leadership roles.

Dr. Tap Raj Pant, representative of the UNESCO education sector in South Sudan, says that women in Media are playing a critical role in promoting and SDG4, vision for Education 2030 which was set in 2015.

The SDG analyses the regional context, challenges, and opportunities, and provides policy recommendations through the lens of the overarching themes of equity and inclusion, while also considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Many women are in the forefront in South Sudan and they are really contributing to the development of South Sudan which is very good, we need to definitely have a balance, both men and women should work hand in hand so that they can contribute not only to the family but to the community so this is the main intention towards it, If you look at sdg4  article four so there the role of women so women they are two designated value SDG5 is very and within the SDG4 there are several targets for education and one designated body for women girls education and girls participation, girls participation and access to education”, said Raj.

This program aims to improve the capacities of regulators and legislative bodies to support a development goal agenda 2030 by promoting policy interventions in the improved media and I believe that at the end of this training, all our journalists in our various media associations in the country and the members of the civil society will able to take it up and we shall be having equal presentations of women and in various positions.

A group photo of the Participants at Yirol community Radio during training on basic journalism and code of conduct, gender-responsive reporting in Yirol West County, Lakes State.

6 Nov. 2021, Yirol; NPC South Sudan on Saturday started two days of Training in Yirol community Radio on basic journalism and code of conduct, gender-responsive reporting in Yirol West County, Lakes State.

At the opening remarks of the event of the In-house training, the Deputy executive director Mr. Dut Mayor Jong said that without journalists there will be no development and for a country to progress there is a need for journalists and the media to do the required work.

He appreciates the initiative brought by NPC-SS and the work done by the Journalists in the county for informing and educating the community on relevant information required.

Mr. Bullen Kenyi Yatta, the chairperson of National Press Club South Sudan (NPC-SS) said the training is to ensure that journalist conduct their work professionally in a conducive working environment since nobody intends to work in challenges.

Bullen said radio is a tool for development through the information disseminated. Therefore, he urged the reporters to open up their minds in learning such knowledge to improve their professional strength in Journalism.

On his part, the station manager of the community Radio Mr. John Ruei Kulang said that there’s a need for such training to be extended for more period of time so that a lot of areas are covered that are relevant to credibly inform the community in a professional manner on the community Radio.

This training is one among the other training conducted in four other Community Radio Stations in South Sudan covered by the

National Press Club to build their capacities to ethically report on Gender issues and scripting production of gender-related programs that later will be aired on the Radios to educate the communities.

NPC-SS Chair of the board of directors during his presentation to the participants through Yirol community Radio during training on basic journalism and code of conduct, gender-responsive reporting in Yirol West County, Lakes State. photo NPC-SS