Information Minister Michael Makuei speaking to reporters after the council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir on Friday, 6th Oct 2023. (Photo: Charles Wote/Eye Radio).

The National Minister of Information on Thursday cautioned journalists and media houses against biased reporting as the country prepares for its first general elections in December 2024.

Michael Makuei said the government will ensure free civic space and freedom of expression for all parties during political campaigns.

He added that contesting candidate will have equitable media access to convey their messages to voters.

“We also ensure equitable media access to all contesting candidates to convey their messages to voters, ensuring free civic space and freedom of expression for all parties during the campaigns.”

However, he advised journalists to stick to good principles of journalism and report ethically and professionally.

The information minister added that journalists and media houses should fact-check, not intentionally distort information, identify sources, and avoid stereotypes.

“The media authority will make sure that the journalists report correctly, a journalist is supposed to be neutral. So, whenever a journalist is writing a report, must make sure he/she writes a neutral report,” he said.

Makuei threatened to hold accountable a journalist “found to be abusing his/her professional ethics” through the media regulator known as the South Sudan Media Authority.

According to Communication Studies’ Journalism and Ethic Standards, good journalism practice includes accuracy and fact-based communications, independence, objectivity, impartiality, fairness, respect for others and public accountability among others.