01/07/2025
The Transformation of Journalism in South Sudan has changed into tribalistic Journalism!
(From Public Service to Tribal Allegiance)
By Deng Lual Wek Tingkeya
In South Sudan, journalism is undergoing a troubling transformation. What was once seen as a noble profession serving the public with truth, balance, and integrity is now, in many instances, being weaponized along tribal and political lines. The rise of tribalistic journalism is distorting the media landscape and eroding trust, especially among communities seeking fair coverage.
Personal Observation: When Journalism Becomes a Tool of Retaliation
I speak from personal experience. I have seen firsthand how media CEOs those at the top of some of South Sudan’s largest media houses are using their platforms not to serve the public interest, but to settle personal or political scores. If a CEO has an internal conflict with an individual from another community, even if they belong to the same broader ethnic group, they may use their authority to block coverage of that community’s events. The justification? A past personal grievance.
In one example, a community requested live media coverage for a significant cultural event. The request was relayed to the CEO by an admin or reporter. The CEO refused, saying, "I don't want that event covered because Mr./Ms. X did something to me two days ago, or months ago." The media house, meant to serve the public, was now serving only personal grudges.
This kind of decision ignores one critical reality followers of that media page come from all communities, including the very group the CEO is refusing to cover. Media platforms are not personal diaries; they are public institutions meant to inform and unite, not divide and exclude.
Ethnic Gatekeeping and Discriminatory Access
Another disturbing trend is how certain communities now treat media coverage like a favor to be granted based on ethnic identity. When journalists arrive to cover an event, they are sometimes asked to disclose their full name and community background. If the journalist does not belong to the host community, or is viewed with suspicion due to prior political or tribal tensions, they are either denied access or excluded from active participation.
In one case I experienced just days ago, I was asked to accompany a friend to cover his community’s meeting. Upon arrival, a member of the community approached us and asked for my identity. After learning about my tribal affiliation, the individual whispered to my friend and requested that I not be involved, citing personal or political reasons. I overheard the conversation and left the event disheartened and disrespected.
Such actions not only alienate journalists but also create an atmosphere of hostility and exclusion. Journalism, at its core, should transcend tribal boundaries, not be defined by them.
Middlemen and Media Corruption
Adding to the problem are self-appointed middlemen who exploit community events for personal gain. When a community or organization assigns someone to coordinate media coverage, these individuals often manipulate the process to enrich themselves.
Here’s how it works: the community agrees to pay 400,000 SSP per media house for live coverage. The middleman, however, makes deals with the media houses, telling them they’ll receive only 200,000 SSP. He then selects five media houses instead of the promised seven, pocketing the extra funds for himself. This dishonesty not only deprives communities of wider coverage but also damages the reputation of the media sector as a whole.
The Dangerous Consequences of Tribalistic Journalism
What we are seeing in South Sudan is not just biased journalism it is tribalistic journalism, fueled by personal interests, political grudges, and financial manipulation. When media houses serve only specific communities or act based on who is in power or who has money, they lose credibility and create dangerous social rifts.
Worse still, they damage the democratic fabric of our young nation. A divided media landscape means divided information, divided truths, and divided people.
A Call for Professionalism and Accountability
It is time for South Sudanese media practitioners, CEOs, journalists, and community leaders to reflect. Media must serve all people fairly, transparently and ethically. Leadership positions in media houses should be guided by professionalism, not tribalism or ego. Coverage decisions must be based on relevance and public interest, not personal vendettas.
We must reject hatred disguised as media policy, and we must demand accountability from those who turn journalism into a personal tool. If we continue on this path, our media will no longer be a mirror of society it will be a weapon of division.
Only by returning to the foundational principles of journalism truth, neutrality and service can we restore faith in our media and build a more united South Sudan.
