Media Authority urges journalists to be professional and ethical in reporting human rights violations.
Director General, Sapana Abuie’s comment came during the opening of the two-day capacity building on ethical and human rights reporting.
He advises journalists to understand the law, to guide them, on how to perform their duties.
Abuie also encourages them to continue learning because it is continues process.
“It’s also through writing and informing the public about mal-practices that will enable them even make informed decisions. There you are educating the public, to promote democracy and that is strengthened by the freedom of expression, because when you write or when you inform the public correctly and accurately, you will stand strong that nobody will come arrest you from your right and if it happens, then that is also a violation of the rights which is not allowed and as reporting you have to be professional and know how to report on human right violations or to raise concern about human rights”.
UNMISS representative, Dennes Chenwi, explains that freedom of expression, media and human rights are key in peace and development.
“Freedom of expression, media and human rights in the peace and development of any nation. We know at the individual level, freedom of expression, media and human rights are key because the fundamental aspects for the fulfilment of every person as well as a channel through which citizens can have an understanding of their surrounding, as well as the wider world and to have a voice or a say in the way that does not effect a society, their communities and nation and at the level of the state freedom of expression is necessary for good governance, democracy and for economic and social progress”.
President of Union of Journalists in South Sudan, Patrick Oyet, urges media personnel to take the training seriously, to gain more knowledge.
He adds that journalists should not rely only on the knowledge they attained from school.
“We always know that as journalists coming from journalism schools, you were tought a lot of things. You were taught news reporting, what is news, you were taught a little bit about media law, you were taught some basics on economics, but in most cases you come out and what you know is actually to report news, you do not know pure economics, you do not know pure law, you do not know pure business. You have a little bit of all those and as you come to practice, you find that challenges begin to appear because if they tell you to go and report in court or on health issues, then you find that sometimes there are things you do not know”.
Oyet warns journalists to take care when reporting because there are limitations.
Some limitations include, hiding someone’s identity and seeking permission from parents or guardians, when reporting on children.
The training brought together about 20 journalists from different media houses within Juba.
The speakers made the remarks on Monday during the opening of the training at Quality Hotel in Juba.