A number of South Sudanese media professionals on Wednesday called for revival of media coverage in local languages, according to a report by the Catholic Radio Network.
Chaplain Kara Yokoju, the head of the Communications Department at Juba University, pointed out that the history of media in South Sudan started with local language newspapers published by missionaries. He said that they should be revived in order to reach more readers in local languages.
He said that many media organizations are communicating to audiences in languages that are alien to the illiterate majority. He was referring to the use of English and Arabic.
Victor Keri Wani, deputy editor in chief of The Citizen newspaper, likewise recommended the revival of the use of local languages in mass media.
CRN reports that he advised South Sudanese intellectuals to take up the task of writing in native languages including Bari, Azande, Dinka, Ma’di and Acholi.
Juba Monitor Chief Editor Alfred Taban decried lack of reading culture in South Sudan. He urged writers to use simple language for communication to be understood by readers in the country.
Related:
Analysis: Major language constraints on media reach in South Sudan