Media of South Sudan

The Media of South Sudan is underdeveloped compared to many other countries, including fellow East African states like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, but South Sudan nonetheless has several indigenous media outlets and a host of active journalists.

Media freedom

According to Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the South Sudanese government guarantees freedom of the press, a significant difference from the neighboring Republic of the Sudan from which the South gained independence in July 2011. However, journalists including the editors of both The Citizen and The Juba Post have alleged harassment, abuse, and de facto censorship at the hands of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement as recently as in the months leading up to independence, and the government has been known to confiscate newspapers^[1] and threaten radio stations with closure. The distribution of Arabic-language publications in South Sudan has also allegedly been restricted and outright banned at turns.^[2]

Days after South Sudan gained independence, the Sudanese government banned the transportation of newspapers between the two countries and shut down publications and news bureaus owned by South Sudanese in the North, including the Khartoum bureau of The Juba Post.^[3]

Infrastructure

Poor transportation infrastructure and entrenched poverty in South Sudan inhibit both the circulation of newspapers, particularly in states located far from the capital of Juba, and the ability of media outlets to maintain regular coverage of the entire country.^[1]

News publications and outlets

South Sudan's largest English-language newspapers are The Citizen and The Juba Post, both of which are independent publications. Only the latter of the two currently maintains a website.^[4]

Radio Miraya, a 24/7 radio station supported by the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Swiss NGO Fondation Hirondelle, broadcasts both music and coverage of news, sports, and culture from Juba in English and colloquial Arabic.^[5]

Several South Sudanese-led news organisations cover South Sudan from abroad. These include the South Sudan News Agency, the Sudan Tribune, the New Sudan Vision, and SouthSudanNation.com.^[4]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Carlstrom, Gregg (12 July 2011). "South Sudan journalists facing intimidation". Al Jazeera English. http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/spotlight/southsudanindependence/2011/07/201171211357184117.html. Retrieved 12 July 2011. 
2. ^ "South Sudan’s Media Landscape Has Long Path Toward Democratization". South Sudan Info. 11 July 2011. http://southsudaninfo.net/2011/07/south-sudans-media-landscape-has-long-path-toward-democratization/. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
3. ^ Odongo, Robert (17 July 2011). "Khartoum bans South Sudan newspapers". Talk of Sudan. http://talkofsudan.com/sudan/item/9204-khartoum-bans-south-sudan-newspapers. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "South Sudan Newspapers and News on the Internet". Stanford University. http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/south-sudan/south-sudan-news.html. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 
5. ^ "About us". Miraya FM. http://www.radiomiraya.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=421:about-us&catid=99:about-us&Itemid=320. Retrieved 2 August 2011. 

External links

• The New Sudan Vision
• Radio Miraya
• South Sudan News Agency
• SouthSudanNation.com