South Sudan’s Media Authority on Wednesday said they have started the accreditation of local journalists working in the country.
Elijah Alier, the managing director of the media regulator, during a press conference on Wednesday, said the Authority had been giving accreditation only to South Sudanese working for international media outlets and foreign journalists in the country.
“This is to inform the media fraternity that the Media Authority will commence the accreditation of bona fide national journalists in the Republic of South Sudan with effect from Monday, 17 October 2022. The purpose of the accreditation is to certify recognition of working journalists and other qualified media practitioners,” he said. “The fact that everybody is a journalist is the reason why we want to accredit the journalists.”
“Those who will meet the requirements will get accreditation and those who do not meet the requirements will not be accredited because we want this profession to be respected,” he added.
Alier said only qualified journalists will be accredited.
“Accreditation shall be only be granted to an individual upon presentation of professional certificates, a recommendation letter duly issued by the media agency for which the media professional works, and a filled application form,” he said. “The form will be made available by the Media Authority.”
The Media Authority boss said the validity of accreditation will be 12 months with costs attached to it.
According to Media Authority Regulations on Accreditation of Journalists, 2018, journalists who shall qualify to be accredited include; all qualified national journalists, editors-in-chief, managing editors and copy Editors, freelance journalists, student journalists and trainees, foreign journalists, and cartoonists.
Alier said South Sudan has 230 registered media houses, but only 100 are functional across the country.