The Association for Media Development in South Sudan, AMDISS, is hosting a national consultative meeting on media self-regulation in Juba.
The meeting, organized by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), has brought together representatives from the Media Authority, the Commission for Access to Information, media advocacy groups, media houses, and journalists.
The stakeholders are discussing ethical journalism and professional accountability in South Sudan’s media sector.
The meeting is also supporting plans to establish a Media Ethics Council, an independent self-regulatory body that will handle breaches of professional ethics and oversee the review of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Principles for Journalists.
AMDISS Director Ayaa Irene Lokang says the proposed body will complement, rather than overlap with, the mandate of the Media Authority.
“This body that we are going to consult you to establish is to handle breaches of ethics and the code of conduct for journalists in South Sudan.”
Ayaa also called on participants to consider international best practices in media ethics and self-regulation.
“Let’s open our minds and put into consideration the international best practices as far as media ethics and regulations are concerned. We are going to ensure that the mandate of this body is not going to overlap with the mandate of the Media Authority.”
Meanwhile, UJOSS President Patrick Oyet Charles says the consultation is important in determining how ethical issues should be addressed within the journalism profession.
“This meeting is very important to us as UJOSS because we’ll discuss issues to do with how we want to handle issues to do with ethics in our profession.”
The Managing Director of the South Sudan Media Authority, Ajou Luol Akuei, has stressed the need for stakeholders to clearly understand the Authority’s mandate to regulate, promote and develop the media sector.
“This important meeting on ethics of journalists in South Sudan is crucial, but we need to understand the roles and mandates of Media Authority as a body that regulates, promotes and develops the media sector in South Sudan.”
The workshop is expected to review the existing journalists’ code of conduct, identify emerging ethical challenges, and propose updates applicable to print, broadcast, and digital media.