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Juba: Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol
The Chairperson of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS) in Western Equatoria State has dismissed accusations and propaganda circulating online that falsely implicate journalists in Yambio.
Christopher Gaaniko Ginaba, speaking during a training workshop organized by UJOSS with support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), highlighted the growing issue of misinformation targeting journalists.
Gaaniko raised the matter with the State Minister of Information and Communication, Dominic Usini, stressing its negative impact on journalists’ reputations and their relationship with the government. He stated, “There are many online articles about sensitive issues, such as the situation in Tambura, that falsely associate Yambio journalists without their consent. This misinformation damages their credibility and creates mistrust.”
He called on the ministry to collaborate with UJOSS to address these challenges, noting that journalists are often targeted for content they did not produce.
Johnson John Batal, UJOSS Safety and Protection Officer, emphasized the dangers of digital crimes targeting journalists, explaining that the training aims to equip media professionals with skills to protect their digital identities.
“The rise in cybercrimes against journalists is extremely concerning. This training, in collaboration with NPA, helps journalists secure their databases and safeguard their identities in the digital space.”, Batal said.
State Minister of Information Dominic Usini acknowledged the journalists’ concerns in a statement to Radio Tamazuj and urged them to report any cases of arrest directly to his office for immediate follow-up.
“From now on, if any journalist is arrested, report directly to me. I will investigate the case and ensure it is handled appropriately, as long as it is not a personal matter”, He said.
The Minister also pledged to work with journalists to enhance their safety and defend press freedom in the state.
