The National Election Commission (NEC) and the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) have urged journalists to uphold accuracy, impartiality and...
The National Election Commission (NEC) and the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) have urged journalists to uphold accuracy, impartiality and professional ethics as the country prepares for general elections scheduled for December 22, 2026.The call was made during the closing session of a two-day electoral reporting training workshop in Juba aimed at strengthening journalists’ capacity to cover the electoral process responsibly.NEC Chairperson Gabriel Deng Bol urged journalists to verify information before publication, correct errors promptly and avoid reports that could fuel hate speech, discrimination or violence.He also emphasized the importance of using clear and simple language to help citizens understand the electoral process, their rights and how to participate peacefully.Bol called on media practitioners to give greater coverage to women and young people, noting that young people are expected to account for about 80 percent of voters, while women constitute the majority of the population.He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to providing timely and accurate electoral information while respecting media independence.Meanwhile, the President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan said the training addressed key issues, including electoral ethics, hate speech, incitement to violence and the risks posed by misinformation, disinformation and malinformation.He reminded journalists that elections extend beyond polling day, covering pre-election activities, voting and the post-election period.He cited political party primaries, voter registration, nominations and campaigns as important developments that require continuous media attention.The UJOSS president also disclosed that the Media Authority had developed election reporting guidelines, which will be shared with journalists for review and validation.Speaking on behalf of the participants, Manala Joyce called for more electoral reporting training, particularly for journalists working outside Juba, and greater participation of female journalists.She urged the National Election Commission to publish electoral information and training materials on its website to ensure journalists who could not attend the workshop also have access to essential resources.Joyce also raised concerns about journalists’ safety during election coverage, calling on election stakeholders, political parties and UJOSS to establish measures to protect media practitioners.She further urged political parties to respect journalists’ independence and allow them to cover political activities without restrictions.The two-day workshop was organized by the Union of Journalists of South Sudan, with support from the National Election Commission, as part of efforts to promote responsible and professional media coverage ahead of the December elections.
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