My Journalism Experience in South Sudan By: Gabriel Joseph Shadar
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Transcript 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