The Minister of Information, Michael Makuei, has warned journalists that press freedom protection only applies to professional work and does not cover personal behavior or unregulated criticism.
Speaking at a Media Stakeholders Forum on Freedom of Expression and Civic Space on Tuesday, Makuei stressed that legal protections for the press do not cover all journalistic operations.
He said those protections apply only when one is acting in a professional and ethical capacity.
“When conflicts with the law arise, the first question to ask is: were you speaking as a journalist or simply as an individual? If it is the former, the law protects you. But if it is the latter, then you stand accountable as any other citizen,” Makuei said.
Makuei warned against the growing trend of publishing raw or unverified information, especially on social media, saying such recklessness undermines journalistic credibility and can expose the nation to risks.
“Being a journalist does not mean you have the liberty to broadcast anything that comes your way. Information must be checked and balanced before it reaches the public,” he stressed.
He further cautioned that certain information, particularly relating to security, is too sensitive to be disclosed and must be treated with the highest discretion.
The information minister’s warning comes at a time when disputes about the limitations of press freedom in South Sudan are raging, with journalists continuously straddling the narrow line between their position as watchdogs and the state’s harsh constraints.
