The president of UJOSS, Oyet Patrick Charles Tuesday said the training will take place in all the 10 states as well as three administrative areas across the country.
“The whole population of South Sudan is looking at the National Election Commission, the media or journalists when it comes to elections. Journalists therefore must be ready and start reporting on the election in order to provide information on the polls to the public,” he said.
The election cycle and what media should focus on during elections were the main topics covered.
The journalists’ nationwide capacity building training is supported by UNESCO.
The UNESCO communication specialist, Doreen Loboka Gunne Wudu called on journalists to use languages that the South Sudanese population understand.
“We urge all journalists and stakeholders connected to elections to promote access to information and freedom of expression as invaluable tools for democracy,” she said.
The Director General of the Information ministry in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Yassir Babekir called for neutrality from journalists reporting on elections.
“The media should not take sides during elections, but be neutral and provide equal space or airtime to all political parties contesting in an election,” he said.
Oliva Modi, a former chairperson of UJOSS, was one of the training facilitators.
Held under the theme: “Strengthen Journalists’ Capacities on Electoral Reporting and Access to Information”, the training urged journalists to shun hate speech and adhere to ethical journalism principles.
