The President of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), Patrick Oyet, has called on the National Elections Commission (NEC) to mobilize financial and logistical support for mainstream media outlets ahead of the December 22 general elections.
Speaking during a media workshop in Juba on Monday, October 12, Oyet said media houses need resources to conduct voter and civic education and keep the public informed before, during and after the elections.
He urged the NEC to work with its development partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to provide financial support for election-related media activities.
“Going forward, I would also like to request NEC not to stop at training us on how we should cover the elections, but also to look for resources for journalists and media houses,” Oyet said.
He suggested that the commission and its partners could support radio stations, television broadcasters and newspapers to disseminate voter education messages and other election-related information.
Oyet emphasized that mainstream media would play a central role throughout the electoral process, from publicizing NEC announcements and educating voters to reporting on voting activities and communicating official results.
“The media is supposed to take the lead, especially on voter and civic education during the pre-election period,” he said.
He added that media outlets require financial support to meet operational expenses, including fuel and the maintenance of solar power systems.
Oyet said the media would also be essential during polling by informing the public about voter turnout and other developments at polling stations.
He further stressed that journalists would remain important after voting by relaying official announcements and election results to citizens across the country.
“I don’t think NEC will move house to house to provide this information to the public. The media will play a role in relaying the announcements to the public,” he said.
Oyet’s appeal comes as South Sudan prepares for the general elections scheduled for December 22, with media outlets expected to play a significant role in voter education and public information.
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