![Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, Head of the European Union Delegation to South Sudan, in a group photo with government officials and participants at the World Press Freedom Day commemoration at the University of Juba on Tuesday. [Photo: Courtesy]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC7982-scaled-1.jpg?quality=89&ssl=1)
Ambassador Timo Olkkonen, Head of the European Union Delegation to South Sudan, told attendees at an event marking the 32nd anniversary of World Press Freedom Day at the University of Juba that remuneration remains a key factor in the performance of journalists.
“Media owners, remuneration plays a major role in motivating or demotivating reporters, which has a direct impact on the quality of reporting. Please do all you can to ensure that reporters receive the logistical support they need and a fair wage for their labour,” he said.
Olkkonen’s call echoes the longstanding position of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) on improved payment of journalists by media owners.
Olkkonen also challenged the South Sudan Media Authority, the country’s media regulatory body, to play a bridging role between journalists and stakeholders to curb incidents of harassment.
“And to you, government officials, especially in the Media Authority, swiftly play your role as arbiter between media practitioners and other actors whenever the need arises, so that negative stories about arrests, detentions and confiscation of reporters and press equipment by other actors are minimized,” said the ambassador.
The ambassador commended efforts by the government and stakeholders to foster a more enabling environment for journalists in the country, despite ongoing challenges faced by media professionals, highlighting the positive impact of regular dialogues among media stakeholders, which he described as a crucial step toward supporting a free and professional press.
“I would like to be positive despite the many reports we continue to receive about the challenges that journalists and media houses face,” Ambassador Olkkonen said.
He specifically praised the collaborative work of organizations such as the Union of Journalists, Journalists for Human Rights, the Association of Media Development in South Sudan, the Media Authority, and the National Communication Authority, while also acknowledging the contributions of international partners, including UNESCO and Norwegian People’s Aid, in building a “competent, reliable, professional, accountable, and responsible media industry” in South Sudan.
The European Union has been actively supporting South Sudan’s media sector, both directly and indirectly. In 2024, the EU sponsored two South Sudanese journalists to attend the Connecting Media Communities Conference in Kosovo.
The event brought together 99 journalists from around the world for workshops and panel discussions focused on combating disinformation and fostering global journalistic networks.
“We believe that such training will strengthen the capacity of South Sudanese journalists,” Olkkonen noted, adding that the EU is committed to providing more opportunities for similar learning engagements.
Addressing tensions between media and government authorities, the ambassador acknowledged that misunderstandings about the media’s role have sometimes led to challenges.
However, he emphasised the importance of dialogue in building trust. “The more you dialogue and share ideas, the more you build trust, and the free press can then play its role as the fourth estate, enabling citizens to make informed decisions through truthful and objective reporting,” stated the ambassador.
A significant milestone highlighted in the statement was South Sudan’s improved ranking in the Press Freedom Index, as reported by Reporters Without Borders.
The country’s ranking rose from 136 to 109, a development Ambassador Olkkonen described as a testament to the collective efforts of media stakeholders. “Please, let’s work together to improve South Sudan’s ranking even further,” he urged.
