In the Shadow of Violence: The Pressing Needs of Sudanese Journalists

"In regions marred by conflict, the significance of journalists is amplified."

This study, published by Media in Cooperation and Transition (MiCT), looks at the situation of Sudanese media practitioners who are working in the difficult conflict conditions affecting the country. Given their important role in reporting on the situation in Sudan, the study sought to determine the pressing needs of Sudanese journalists in order to guide supportive actions that will enable them to continue their work. The assessment was conducted with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

As explained in the report, "The violent conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has once again hurled the nation into the global spotlight. Political upheaval, economic woes, and a humanitarian crisis have impacted millions of lives. Against this backdrop, the critical role of journalism cannot be overstated. Working under challenging conditions and often at considerable personal risk, journalists have provided crucial accounts to inform the world about Sudan's complex situation. Their reports have had a substantial part in shaping national and international viewpoints."

The study involved a WhatsApp chatbot survey with 213 journalists who are based in Sudan. The WhatsApp chatbot was designed for ease of response, especially given the numerous difficulties facing Sudanese journalists. The survey included 38 questions, blending open and closed-ended formats, which were tailored to capture overarching trends and specific insights and focused on journalists' current challenges, threats, and requirements.

The findings, as highlighted in the report's executive summary, are as follows:  

Threats and discrimination:

• Two-thirds of the 213 respondents faced at least one type of threat: physical, psychological, or digital.
• Psychological threats were the most frequently reported (90%), followed by physical threats (53%) and cyber threats (51%).
• The nature of threats varied by gender: 93% of women responding reported psychological threats compared to 89% of men, who reported a higher rate of physical and online threats.
• The primary online threat identified was harassment and a threat of violence, reported by 53% and rising to 74% among women respondents, compared to 47% of men. Other threats include cyberattacks (15%) and surveillance (6%).
• Of the threatened respondents, 80% reported coping mechanisms such as relocating, avoiding, seeking shelter, negotiating with those threatening them, and securing communication tools.
• 80% of respondents facing threats wish to relocate, with the figure rising to 90% among those facing physical threats.
• 57% of respondents reported experiences of discrimination due to political/intellectual orientation (18%), gender (17%), and ethnicity (15%).

Economic and work problems:

• The fallout from the war saw the closures of media outlets, adding to financial pressures on journalists and their families.
• 43% of respondents now work in unpaid positions, with over a quarter having ceased publication. Equipment shortages combined with safety concerns are primary setbacks.
• Only 23% of respondents still receive a salary, with some earning below $US100 monthly.

Media and censorship landscape:

• Over three-quarters of respondents faced publication restrictions, with 26% practising self-censorship and 20% experiencing direct censorship.
• Of the respondents, 35% are primarily print journalists and 30% work online, while others distribute content via TV, radio, or mixed platforms.
• State security measures, unreliable communication, and movement restrictions hinder information access.
• Media constraints compromise safety, resources, and journalistic freedom, impacting news quality and quantity.

Support requirements:

• 94% of respondents specified their requirements for immediate assistance. Financial assistance was the primary need (33%), followed by safe living and working environments (28%), consistent across genders.
• Financial need is evident across age groups and intensifies among older respondents, peaking at 75% for those over 60.
• Regionally, the demand for safe conditions is more evident in The Niles (34%) and Darfur (33%) compared to central Sudan, including Khartoum (28%) and the east of the country (17%).
• Over 70% of respondents identified a demand for psychosocial services, with a marked difference between women (77%) and men (63%).
• Younger respondents (age 20-40) are more receptive to addressing psychological issues, with 84% indicating psychosocial support needs, compared to 38% of those over 50.
• More than 85% mentioned equipment needs such as laptops (78%) and cameras (61%).
• 59% of respondents expressed the need for training in investigative journalism. Training in trauma and stress reporting (56%) and countering mis/disinformation (53%) followed closely.
• Young and mid-aged journalists express a greater need for editorial support/training/resources than their older counterparts, with 15% of the 20-30 age group highlighting this compared to 3% of those over 51.
• 66% of respondents indicated a need for more organisational backing.

Relocation and future aspirations:

• 78% are considering relocation, but 23% lack the necessary documents (including passports). By gender, 64% of women and 52% of men expressed interest in relocating.
• 86% of respondents who provided information about their preferred relocation destinations said they would prefer moving abroad, while 14% are inclined towards internal migration.
• Among those aiming for international relocation, 53% lean towards Arabic-speaking countries, while 46% favour moving to non-Arabic speaking destinations.
• Preferred destinations include Saudi Arabia (33%), Kenya (21%), and Egypt (20%).
• Concerning relocation support, financial aid (75%), logistical assistance (55%), and language assistance (41%) emerged as respondents' top needs.

Based on the findings, the report puts forward the following recommendations:  

Safety and protection:

• Physical safety: Prioritise safety training and security equipment for journalists.
• Psychological well-being: Offer targeted psychosocial services (in-person and online), focusing on women journalists.
• Digital safety: Provide training on cybersecurity best practices and equip journalists with advanced software tools to protect against digital threats and breaches.

Support and resources:

• Financial assistance: Provide immediate relief funds for those in dire need, ensuring equitable allocation based on transparent criteria and the severity of economic hardship.
• Safe spaces: Establish secure environments for journalists to live and work, ensuring their safety and well-being.
• Relocation assistance: Provide journalists with relocation support, documentation, and language training.
• Training: Host workshops (currently not feasible in Sudan due to the war; low-band- width online courses are recommended) to impart safety and key journalism skills and to combat mis/disinformation.
• Equipment: Supply essential tech tools (such as computers, cameras, and recorders) to enable journalists to sustain their reporting and create platforms where they can collaborate, share resources, and offer peer support.
• Protection and legal assistance: Offer structural support to journalist support institutions to facilitate tracking impunity cases and enhance protection infrastructure, including legal assistance for those facing threats or legal challenges.
• Discrimination and biases: Launch anti-discrimination campaigns that focus on tackling prevalent biases, once the situation enables local and international media, human rights bodies, and civil society organisations to do so.
• Gender disparities: Prioritise gender equity, addressing problems primarily women in the sector face, e.g., the threat of sexual assault.
• Editorial independence: Ensure interventions don't compromise reporters' journalistic integrity and editorial freedom while also promoting fact-checking and public media information literacy.

Engaging stakeholders:

• Collaborations: Partner with local and global entities for resources.
• Advocacy: Promote awareness campaigns on press freedom and the need for consistent transparency in reporting.
• Building trust: Establish public confidence through factual accuracy, consistent reporting, and positive impact stories.

Click here for the shortened 12-page Arabic version of this report in PDF format.