Journalists urged to report ethically on refugee, IDP legal issues
By Kidega Livingstone
Journalists and media practitioners in South Sudan have been urged to report ethically and responsibly on legal and human rights issues affecting refugees and internally displaced people.
The call was made during a paralegal training for more than 30 journalists and content creators organized by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, or UJOSS.
Gabriel Awan Bior, data and media director at the South Sudan Media Authority, urged journalists to protect the dignity and rights of refugees and internally displaced people and avoid discriminatory reporting.
He said responsible journalism is particularly important when covering vulnerable communities and sensitive legal and human rights issues.
The South Sudan Media Authority said promoting ethical and professional standards is part of its mandate, including training journalists on media ethics and professional practices.
UJOSS President Patrick Oyet Charles said the training was important because South Sudan hosts refugees and has a large population of internally displaced people across the country.
He said journalists need a strong understanding of legal and humanitarian issues to ensure their reporting does not expose vulnerable people to further discrimination, stigma or harm.
UJOSS has identified professionalism, respect for diversity and responsible journalism among the values it seeks to promote in South Sudan’s media sector.
The training comes as UJOSS pushes for stronger media self-regulation and ethical standards, including discussions on a proposed independent Media Ethics Council.
