South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, in partnership with the Media Mentors Network, recently conducted a comprehensive training program aimed at enhancing journalists’ skills in information literacy.
The initiative focused on equipping media professionals with critical tools to verify facts, identify misinformation, and promote responsible reporting in an increasingly complex information environment.
This training is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen media integrity and support informed public discourse.
Jasper Kodi the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), , said that the training is advancing critical media and information literacy in South Sudan.
“The training is part of initiatives to strengthen the media in South Sudan. We are not just here to discuss training; we are affirming a shared commitment to equality, inclusion, and truth-telling in public discourse,” Kodi remarked during the two-day training on media and information literacy.
He emphasised the need for an inclusive and responsible media sector to support ongoing efforts towards reconciliation and democratic transition as the country prepares for the upcoming 2026 general election.
“In today’s digital and highly connected world, the media landscape often reflects and sometimes perpetuates gender stereotypes and systemic biases that hinder progress for women and girls. This is not just a gender issue; it is a development issue,” he added.
Marina Modi, the lead facilitator of the training on media and information literacy, explained that the focus of the training is to identify fake news in digital media to combat hate speech and disinformation.
“We are building capacity not only for professional journalism and content verification. Through this training, we are moving beyond technicalities; we aim to address challenges related to media and information literacy,” Modi said.
Majak Daniel Kuany, the Secretary General of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), noted that the training empowers journalists to promote and advance the media and information ecosystem.
“This kind of training enhances information integrity. When society is empowered to evaluate, analyse, and verify information, individuals can provide accurate and authentic information that enables informed decision-making,” Kuany explained.
“We are witnessing that Media Mentors Networks and UNESCO are filling the gaps that other institutions have been unable to address, demonstrating that the media sector is making progress,” he concluded.
