By Otto Abut
The Executive Director of the Association for Media Development in South Sudan has called on the journalists to remain neutral in their reporting as the forthcoming election draws near in December 2024.
Mrs. Ayaa Irine made the call on Tuesday 13th Feb 2024 during the Commemoration of the World Radio Day in Juba under the global theme “A century in informing, entertaining and educating”.
The executive director pointed out that the media plays a bigger role in the forthcoming election and that voters will rely most on the media to feed them with information that will enable voters to understand how to mark their ballot papers, how to vote, and how to approach polling stations.
“In a time of the election, the voters rely so much on the media, whatever they do, their decision, everything they have a lot of hope in the media, So that means that as media, you need to be able to give the kind of expectation that the people want from you”
“Be neutral in your reporting, and avoid branding yourselves with political attires” Irine told journalists.
During a roundtable panel discussion, Stella Loki, a radio host at Advance Youth Radio and one of the panelists urges radio prisenters to ‘do no harm’ during the elections by ensuring neutrality, verifying sources, and not to play any role in incitement.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Mission Director USIAD, Mr. Younnes Araya commended the media role saying, that radio broadcasts can address communal conflict and violence before it takes on by checking accurate and right information within the communities.
He said the South Sudanese people need peace, human rights, and democracy in the government that is accountable to them ahead of the expected forthcoming election in December 2024.