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In Jonglei State, South Sudan, media freedoms were heavily restricted between May and December 2024. The government suspended broadcasting of news and limited local radio programming to entertainment content, underscoring the tenuous balance between media and government in the region.
To address these restrictions, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) partnered with the South Sudan Media Authority to implement a series of interventions aimed at restoring and strengthening free media. These included:
- Workshops in media relations were attended by 100 government officials from various ministries and security agencies.
- Training for 22 journalists focused on fact-checking and professional reporting skills.
- A roundtable dialogue bringing together government representatives, members of the media, and civil society to discuss the importance of free, professional media—especially in countering misinformation and hate speech.
These efforts yielded measurable improvements: by December 2024, the media restrictions were lifted. Additionally, in May 2025, a public dialogue confirmed that journalists could operate more freely and engage in public discourse without undue interference.
An illustrative case of change occurred in July 2025, when Radio Jonglei 95.9 FM aired a song with potentially inflammatory content. Rather than imposing punitive measures, authorities addressed the situation through dialogue—a reflection of the improved relationship between media and government fostered by earlier training and engagement.
JHR’s work was formally acknowledged by the Jonglei State Minister, who issued a letter highlighting how the training sessions enhanced cooperation between the media and government. Participants didn’t just gain skills—they committed publicly to improving the media climate in the state. The Minister encouraged more such dialogues in the future.
In summary, JHR’s program in Jonglei demonstrates a positive model: strategic capacity building, dialogue across sectors, and sustained engagement can lead to restored media freedoms and more democratic public discourse.
Reference –
Strengthening democracy through media freedom in Jonglei State