Financing media outlets in South Sudan is growing tougher, with a detrimental impact on media outlets.

According to a news release issued by the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) on Wednesday, the media business in South Sudan is having financial issues, which has hampered their operations.

According to CEPO’s civic space surveillance program, numerous media outlets have closed their doors owing to financial issues.

According to a CEPO statement, “The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization’s program, Civic Space Watch, noticed that funding for news media outlets in South Sudan is becoming hard, and this has had a detrimental influence on sustaining news media outlets,” according to a CEPO statement.

“The news media is often referred to as the “Fourth Estate” or the “Fourth Branch of Government.” It is true because free and independent news media enables citizens to make educated choices and keeps leaders responsible.”

CEPO said that since 2013, news media funding has been decreasing on an annual basis, which is proved and evidenced by professional journalists quitting media houses and taking on media activities in non-news organizations. It went on to say that numerous newspapers have closed as a consequence, and radio stations now primarily conduct a commercial business.

According to Edmund Yakani, executive director of CEPO, South Sudan is undergoing a political transformation aimed at transitioning the nation from bloodshed to peace via the execution of the renewed peace deal, which necessitates strong news media channels.

“Due to poor investment in the news media (business) in South Sudan, most news media outlets are closing or losing skilled journalists.” “This suggests that there is a low trigger for public motivation for civic action,” Yakani said.

“Right now in South Sudan, funding news media outlets is critical for establishing space for effective citizen involvement on political transitional processes, including constitution-making, transitional justice, institutions, and legislative/policy changes.”

“Without dynamic news media outlets throughout South Sudan, the possibility of misinformation and deception taking the lead in molding public opinion is quite significant,” he warned. Proper funding contributes to thriving news media entities. “

CEPO urged financial institutions and the donor community to support news media outlets in order to ensure a seamless transition to peace.