As South Sudan gears up for its first democratic elections since gaining independence, the role of the media in providing credible and reliable information is more critical than ever. To address this need, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) has launched an essential fact-check training program for editors in the capital, Juba, aimed at combating misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
This initiative, part of JHR’s Peace and Stabilization Program, was conducted in collaboration with the South Sudan Editors Forum. The program focused on equipping editors from various media outlets with the skills and tools necessary to fact-check and combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.
“The topic of this training (Combating mis/disinformation and hate speech) is very important and timely. It’s one important subject matter that we should always think about even out of the workplace. Besides, nobody knows the importance of debunking mis/disinformation and hate speech better than the news editors. Therefore, the government has interests in this matter.”
Hon. Dr. Yath Awan Yath, Undersecretary Ministry of Information Communication, Telecommunication, and Postal Services, emphasized:
“Spreading mis/disinformation and propaganda is a threat to press freedom. As editors, we should be mindful about the information we share. I appeal to you (the news editors) to put your house in order and promote ethical journalism.”
Chuol Jany Bol, Chairperson of the National Editors’ Forum, stressed the threat of misinformation to press freedom:
“False narratives spread very fast compared to accurate information. Therefore, news editors should be vigilant and ensure fact-checking is a priority.”
Marina Modi, Executive Director of Defy Hate Now, highlighted the rapid spread of false narratives:
“Your role as gatekeepers in the newsroom is very critical in ensuring the news is fact-checked and readily available for broadcast or publication for public consumption. In this era of fake news, mis/disinformation, and hate speech, people turn to the mainstream media for trustworthy news. If journalists are not capacitated, they will also fall victim to disseminating such information, causing confusion to the public.”
Mary Ajith, Project Manager of JHR, elaborated on the critical role of editors:
The successful completion of this training marks a significant milestone in JHR’s mission to foster a resilient and reliable media landscape in South Sudan. By empowering editors with the skills to identify and debunk false information, JHR is helping to build a foundation of credible journalism that is essential for informed public discourse and the strengthening of democracy.
