Residents of Gurei in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, on Saturday took part in a community forum aimed at improving public trust in the media and tackling misinformation ahead of the country’s planned general elections in December.
The forum was organised by the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), with support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), and brought together more than 500 people, including women, men and young people, traditional and community leaders, opinion leaders and journalists.
The event on Saturday included live performances and a dance display by the Ranger Dancing Group. It concluded with the distribution of radio sets to some community members to improve access to news and information about current affairs.
Discussions focused on how the media can help people access reliable information, understand civic and electoral issues, and distinguish professional journalism from unverified content circulating on social media.
Community leaders said the growing use of social media had made it harder for some people to distinguish between verified news and unconfirmed information.
Mary Meling, a member of the Gurei Quarter Council, called for greater interaction between journalists and communities to help build public understanding of how the media works.
“How would common people at the grassroots distinguish between social media and mainstream media content?” she asked.
She said the forum was the first opportunity for some residents to engage directly with journalists about their expectations and to learn more about the work of the media.
Maya Nemaya, chief executive officer of Advance Media, urged residents to verify information before believing or sharing it.
He warned that misinformation and disinformation could contribute to tensions and divisions within communities, particularly when false or misleading claims spread quickly on social media.
“Not every person who owns a smartphone and social media page is a journalist,” Nemaya said.
He encouraged residents to check information against trusted and official sources, including community leaders and members of parliament.
James Madrama, a presenter on Eye Radio’s Sundown programme, also urged residents to avoid spreading unverified rumours.
He said social gatherings should be used to strengthen relationships and promote peaceful coexistence rather than spread gossip or misinformation.
Joyce Maker, NPA’s media rights officer, said dialogue between journalists and communities could help media organisations better understand the information needs and expectations of their audiences.
“Such forums are important in strengthening dialogue, understanding public expectations of the media, and building trust between communities and journalists,” she said.
Maker said a trusted and responsible media could contribute to public participation and social cohesion.
Ayaa Irene Lokang, director of AMDISS, said feedback from the forum would be used to inform future programming.
“Engaging the community directly enables us to get their feedback on the kind of information we broadcast and the programmes we design to address the issues in our communities,” she said.
“It is vital to get the audience’s feedback. We are going to work on the recommendations and feedback that come out from this forum to shape our radio programming to ensure that it is inclusive and in line with the expectations of our audience.”
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