Media for social change

Since Sudan’s 22-year old civil war ended in 2005, the people of the most remote regions of the country are desperate for news and information.

Internews has been building community radio stations and training local reporters here since 2006 to provide their communities with crucial information about the peace agreement, the interim constitution, and the resettlement of returning refugees. The 4 stations that have been completed are the first ever community radio stations to be set up in these remote parts of Sudan, which is emerging from one of Africa’s longest running wars.

Right after Internews trained a radio reporting team in the Southern Sudan town of Malualkon, citizens who were angry that free food was only going to returnees to the area raided and looted United Nations food stores there. The local journalists at Nhomlaau FM, had just begun running the station hours earlier. Their timely and effective coverage of the issue helped defuse tensions. The reporters provided essential information to the community and invited World Food Program staff on the air to discuss the issue. They also interviewed the police and other local authorities.