Media Freedom Hero: Josephine Achiro Fortelo from South Sudan

Josephine Achiro Fortelo, at Bakhita Radio, has the editorial process under control as she assigns the topics of the day. One reporter will call in at the town hall in Juba to ask about a possible cholera outbreak. Someone also has to cover a demonstration for women's rights, a topic close to the Catholic Network station manager's heart - and also the subject of her afternoon call-in program.

South Sudan is a divided country and many have been traumatized by the civil war. For Josephine Achiro Fortelo and her colleagues, this means finding ways to break the cycle of violence. Which they've done for the past ten years, risking their own lives. Achiro Fortelo was once threatened in her own office. Still she steadfastly maintains, "We now need just one language - and it's called unity."

Keeping Bakhita Radio going takes a lot of work. When Achiro Fortelo applies for funding from donors, it's just the first step. The community station's antenna needs electricity to keep transmitting. This means a daily battle since energy prices have gone through the roof - and the ancient generator is constantly breaking down. Staying "on air" is in many ways a major challenge.

In South Sudan, the smartphone has arrived, particularly among the 400,000 inhabitants of the capital Juba. Nevertheless, the radio journalist insists on her daily newspaper. Together with radio, newspapers are still the main media form. But politicians are too often quoted unfiltered and Achiro Fortelo searches in vain for critical reporting. The interesting information is between the lines.

It's important to switch off. Your life is in constant danger as a journalist in South Sudan, says Achiro Fortelo and takes a deep breath. After work she relaxes on a hotel terrace, using the wireless network to chat with friends. During quiet moments like these, she's reminded that her country has a lot of potential. And that community radio has an important part to play.