Journalists Receive Safety Gear for Election Coverage

(JUBA) – The Union of Journalists of South Sudan has donated safety equipment and identification clothing to the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation.

The items given on Friday include 20 press jackets, 50 safety guides and 10 branded shirts. The donation aims to make journalists safer and easier to identify when they are out working on news stories.

The President of the journalists union, Oyet Patrick, led the group that delivered the items. The donation was accepted by the Managing Director of the national broadcaster, John Madol Panther, at the corporation headquarters.

Mr Panther praised the union leadership for the move and said that the protective clothing would encourage reporters and help them do their jobs better in the field.

Mr Panther also asked the union leaders to visit the journalists at the broadcasting corporation more often. He said these visits would help to support the staff as they carry out their daily duties.

During the handover, the union president explained that the donation is part of a plan to get reporters ready for the upcoming 2026 general elections in South Sudan.

Oyet Patrick said the union hopes to provide more jackets in the future when they get more help from their partners. He stated that the union wants journalists all over the country to be fully prepared to cover the elections.

The Union of Journalists of South Sudan is currently sending out press jackets to its offices in all ten states and the three administrative areas. This is part of their official job to protect media workers by making sure they can be recognised easily while they are reporting.

While the specific cost of this donation was not listed, such safety equipment is a significant investment for the media sector.