Makuei urges journalists to uphold professional ethics
The information minister hinted that journalists distinguish when they are acting in their professional capacity or as private individuals.
By Aguok Chok
The Minister of Information, Communication, Technology and Postal Services, Hon. Michael Makuei, has urged journalists to separate personal actions from professional duties.
Speaking during the two-day media stakeholders’ forum in Juba on Tuesday, Makuei said journalists must always reflect on the impact of their work on the community, government, and social media platforms.
“As a journalist, when you perform your functions and duties, number one, you must have in mind what you want?” Makuei asked.
“And after all, what would be the impact of whatever you write or whatever you say, what would be the impact of that in the community or to the government or to the social media?”
He hinted that journalists must know when they are acting in their professional capacity or as private individuals.
“There is a problem, definitely, a way to understand and I have been repeatedly saying this, that you are a journalist and a human being,” Makuei stated.
“When you are acting as a human being, please don’t connect it with your function or your profession as a journalist.”
The information minister explained that when journalists fall into conflict with the law, they must first establish the capacity under which they acted.
“If you are acting as a journalist, then you have the right and you would be protected by the laws and everything,” he said.
“But if you are acting as a person, as an individual, then you face it, you face the law.”
He described this distinction as “very important,” adding that confusion between personal and professional roles has been a major problem.
Makuei also stressed on the need for journalists to observe ethics and professionalism when carrying out their work.
“When we are acting as journalists, we must conform to the ethics and professionalism,” he said.
“Ethics and professionalism are the most important elements or factors that are needed in a journalist.”
On a serious note, the minister also cautioned against rushing to publish unverified information, particularly on social media, stressing that journalism does not give one the right to publish anything without fact-checking.
“Because for me to be a journalist, it doesn’t mean that I have the right to write whatever I do,” he warned. “Whenever I come across any information, and without counterchecking, I just write it and put it on social media or anything in the public. This is not acceptable.”
Makuei added that some information could be misleading or even sensitive in nature.
“There is even sensitive security information that when you come across it, you don’t need to talk about it,” he cautioned.
“Because even in the information, there is classified information that is not supposed to go to you. But if you happen to have come across them, take them to your side.”
In conclusion, he urged journalists to be very cautious and evaluate the information that they want to pass on
