Journalist calls for clearer guidelines for community social media platforms ahead of elections

Senior South Sudanese journalist Maura Ajak has called on the Media Authority to establish clearer guidelines for community-run social media platforms and strengthen the role of professional journalists in covering the December 2026 general elections.

Ajak made the remarks during a talk show marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, where she stressed the need for closer cooperation between the Media Authority and the National Elections Commission.

She said the two institutions should work together to improve public access to civic education and ensure that accurate election-related information reaches communities.

Ajak expressed concern over what she described as limited dissemination of civic engagement information, saying professional journalists should take a leading role in explaining the electoral process.

“I hope the Media Authority also will work hand-in-hand with the National Elections Commission, because I’m not seeing enough dissemination about, for instance, this civic engagement,” she said.

She also raised questions about the growing number of community-based social media platforms and the role of the Media Authority in guiding their activities during the election period.

“We need more of the professional journalists to take the lead in that, because we have a lot of community social media pages. What’s the role of the Media Authority in that?” Ajak said.

She argued that professional journalists should help guide community platforms in sharing accurate information about the different stages of the electoral process.

Ajak said coordinated public information campaigns would help communities understand the election process and reduce the risk of false information being circulated.

“Because it’s the first time we’re going to have elections, let’s make this experience unique. We shouldn’t have any false records,” she said.

South Sudan is preparing for its first general elections, scheduled for December 2026, amid calls for stronger civic education, responsible reporting and public access to reliable election information.