South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
More than 60 students from the University of Juba’s School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies visited The Radio Community (TRC) on Tuesday as part of a field trip aimed at providing them with practical exposure to media operations.
Speaking to journalists, Delphine Roba, the Deputy Dean of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies, explained that the tour was part of ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice.
“At the university, students learn theory, but here they get to see how community radio plays an important role in the country,” Roba said. “This is not the first media tour, and it will not be the last. As long as I am here, I will continue organising such trips.”
She noted that the relatively new school incorporates media trips into its curriculum, particularly for courses in radio and television production.
“Since we do not have a radio station at the university, we take students to professional stations. In the past, we have taken students to newspapers for photojournalism training, and we will continue to create such opportunities,” Roba added.
During the visit, students interacted with TRC staff and learned about the challenges faced by community media. Chris Marol, the Chief Executive Officer of TRC, acknowledged that sustaining community radio in South Sudan remains difficult.
“Power is our biggest challenge, and we are planning to upgrade the batteries when resources allow,” Marol said. “We also face financial constraints after donor support was cut. We need to upgrade our equipment to digital, and we don’t have enough staff due to these challenges. Still, the station provides communities with a platform to question leaders and discuss public issues.”
Marol added that TRC hopes to expand to other states once funding opportunities become available.
Students who participated in the tour expressed their enthusiasm about the experience. Kaong Luak Hoth, one of the students, remarked that the visit was inspiring.
“Visiting the radio station for the first time felt great because we got to see how professionals use radio to convey information of public interest,” he said.
Another student, Deng Angok Deng, described it as “the best opportunity for students to gain exposure to journalism work.”
Rose Kaku stated that the experience strengthened her determination to join the media industry.
“I have learned a lot because today was practical. After leaving this place, I feel ready to work in the media,” she said. “In life, there are always challenges, but this trip taught me how to overcome them.”
