My Journalism Experience in South Sudan By: Gabriel Joseph Shadar

Great Opportunities

Being a journalist in South Sudan provides me with a richness of sources for journalistic content: the cultural diversity; politics; conflicts; natural disasters; infrastructure development; legislation; civil society…

OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION BY TREATING THE ISSUES AT HAND WITH PROFESSIONALISM, THAT IS, IMPARTIALITY, OBJECTIVITY AND RESPONSIBILITY;

OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS AS TO WHY THINGS ARE WHAT THEY ARE; OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THINGS IN THE RIGHT WAY FROM THE START, WHENCE LAYING A FOUNDATION AND EXAMPLE OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM RADIOWISE.

 Chance of building a popularity cult as

recognition of good work: people can distinguish between bad and good journalists the same way they can differentiate between corruption and transparency.

 Always watchful of the complexity of culture

and attitude in South Sudan as work ethics are still in the process of development and consolidation;  Have to deal with situations where team has

little human resources and capacity: language, creativity, courage, responsibility, etc, etc,

 Have to deal with trauma, bias and stress: one runs the risk of joining discourses that takes ethnic lines or political divisions at work

place or in public;  Treat a ground with no maps or direction,

except for journalistic Code of Conduct and professionalism;

 Hazardous environment: might be stopped anytime anywhere for the assumption of being in

the wrong place at the wrong time and for doing the (assumed) wrong thing.  Security and logistical and infrastructure conditions have prevented access to areas with potential content: Lokiliri Payam, Central Equatoria State witnessed abduction of more than 160 children between 2011 -2012; famine and draught in Kapoeta, Panyjaar, etc, etc;

 Newspapers appearing and disappearing with

alarming speed, and some of those in circulation always remind you of your grammar and spelling;  Use references from NGO’s and foreign

sources for information that could otherwise have been provided by an institution nextdoor;

 Developed the attitude of not speaking much

about what I know as I don’t have the means or skills for investigative reporting: attempts to investigate might result into being investigated yourself or – you know.  Little interaction with the older generation of

South Sudanese journalists and our generation of journalist being divided into conflicting groups;

 Having a map and direction: Medial Laws

 Better infrastructure;  United journalists;  Satisfactory service to my listeners