{"id":768,"date":"2026-10-13T08:52:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedawn.com.ss\/?p=768"},"modified":"2026-10-13T08:52:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T08:52:06","slug":"nec-urges-journalists-to-combat-misinformation-ahead-of-december-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedawn.com.ss\/?p=768","title":{"rendered":"NEC Urges Journalists to Combat Misinformation Ahead of December Elections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"345\" src=\"https:\/\/thedawn.com.ss\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-24.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thedawn.com.ss\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-24.png 602w, https:\/\/thedawn.com.ss\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-24-300x172.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The official of the National Election Commission Staffs and journalists during the workshop. photo courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Jenifer James<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The National Elections Commission (NEC) has urged journalists in South Sudan to uphold accuracy, balance, and professionalism in their reporting to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the planned December 2026 elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NEC spokesperson George Lemi Yata made the call during a half-day workshop on electoral reporting that brought together more than 30 journalists on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lemi said the media plays a critical role in promoting public awareness, transparency, accountability, and peaceful participation throughout the electoral process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;As journalists, you are not only a source of information but also key partners in ensuring that citizens receive accurate information and balanced reporting, thereby building confidence in the electoral process,&#8221; Lemi stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He encouraged participants to share their experiences, ask questions, and apply the knowledge gained during the workshop to improve election coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lemi added that professional, impartial, and responsible reporting could contribute significantly to peaceful elections, informed citizens, and democratic development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I trust that the knowledge and skills gained here will translate into more accurate, inclusive, and responsible electoral reporting in our communities,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Oyet Patrick, chairperson of the Union of Journalists of South Sudan (UJOSS), urged the NEC to provide media houses with resources to strengthen civic education and voter awareness ahead of the elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrick said journalists were often expected to provide electoral information to the public without receiving sufficient information from the relevant institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We need knowledge. Often, there is a significant expectation for us as journalists to provide information, but sometimes we don&#8217;t have it,&#8221; Patrick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He welcomed the NEC&#8217;s decision to organize the workshop, saying it provided journalists with an opportunity to learn about the commission&#8217;s activities and obtain information needed for accurate reporting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Many institutions do not think about journalists. They do not plan for journalists,&#8221; Patrick said, adding that some institutions only engage journalists when they need events covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrick urged the NEC to go beyond training journalists by engaging its development partners to mobilize resources for media organizations to cover electoral activities and disseminate voter education messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Don&#8217;t only stop at training us on how we should cover the election; also look for resources for journalists and media houses,&#8221; he appealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He suggested that development partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other UN agencies, could support voter education through radio, television, and newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We have both civic education and voter education programs. We need to go to radio stations, we need to go to newspapers, and we need to go to TVs. Can you pay them? Then they give us airtime or space. This will also help the media play its role,&#8221; Patrick said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrick outlined the media&#8217;s responsibilities throughout the electoral process, including reporting NEC announcements before the elections, providing updates on voter turnout and polling activities on election day, and informing the public about results and electoral disputes after voting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also highlighted operational challenges facing media houses, including fuel costs and the need to maintain solar power systems, which could affect their ability to cover electoral activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patrick stressed that providing financial and logistical support to journalists and media organizations would strengthen their capacity to deliver timely information to the public throughout the electoral period.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The National Elections Commission (NEC) has urged journalists in South Sudan to uphold accuracy, balance, and professionalism in their reporting to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the planned December 2026 elections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":769,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tdlc_coverage_id":0,"_tdlc_timeline_at":"","_tdlc_timeline_label":"","_tdno_assigned_editor":1,"_tdno_approval_notes":"","_thedawn_video_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[54,49],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-election","category-news","tag-following"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - 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