South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
Students from the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies at the University of Juba on Thursday visited Juba Day Secondary School and St. Daniel Comboni Secondary School as part of Media and Information Literacy Week.
During the visit, the Deputy Dean of the School of Journalism, Media and Communication Studies, Delphine Roba, spoke to the students about the outreach’s aim to expand training opportunities for the schools’ journalism clubs and to raise awareness about media literacy.
“We are creating awareness on media and information literacy. Media is the mirror of society. With the prevalence of technology, everyone has access to phones and online information. Some of that information is not true, so it’s essential to verify and cross-check using different sources,” she explained.
Roba added that the university would continue to provide follow-up training and knowledge-sharing with the schools. “We have built our network. More training will be offered here.”
According to Roba, the visits aimed to inspire secondary-school journalism clubs, build connections between the schools and the university, and teach students how to verify information and combat misinformation in the digital age.
Meanwhile, the headteacher of St. Daniel Comboni Secondary School, Emmanuel Lado, encouraged his students to interact with the university students.
“This initiative is important because it shows that the journalism we teach at university is relevant outside the classroom,” he stated.
“Sometimes students aspire to become journalists without understanding what the profession entails. There is a perception that journalism is merely about reporting and selling newspapers, but that is not the reality. You must grasp accurate information from reliable sources and know how to disseminate it. You are the voice of the public.”
Lado urged students to develop confidence and critical thinking skills. “As a journalist, confidence is crucial. When you are confident, people recognise your seriousness and your commitment to disseminating information about our community and country,” he said.
He also cautioned against the spread of false information on smartphones: “These devices can be filled with lies. Some who share that misinformation may identify as journalists, but their intent is often to create chaos. Through Media Literacy Week, you will learn how to combat this misinformation.”
Additionally, Matela Viola, head of the Department of Communication Studies at the School of Journalism, encouraged students to interact with one another, stressing that a strong foundation in school journalism would ease the transition to higher education.
“This foundation, if you embrace it wholeheartedly now, will prepare you for the future. You will know what you are doing, where you are coming from, and where you are going.”
Dhieu William, the project manager of Media Mentor Network, expressed appreciation for the University of Juba’s administration for involving journalism students in inspiring their younger counterparts. Activities for Media and Information Literacy Week were reported to include various campus and community events. Organisers stated that the school visits form part of a broader initiative to strengthen reporting standards and critical media skills among youth.
