Help David preserve a free press in South Sudan

Perhaps you haven’t given much thought to press freedom in South Sudan, the world’s newest nation. But I’d like to introduce you to someone who works to sustain it every waking moment – and perhaps encourage you to give him a few dollars of support.

Meet David Mono Danga, 31. I’ve known a lot of dedicated journalists in my decades in the news business, but David’s commitment stands out. Despite being detained by authorities, he continues to report from one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists and among its poorest places for people.

David interviews a guest for Voice of America’s "South Sudan in Focus" radio news program.

David’s coverage regularly holds the government’s feet to the fire and helps individuals better themselves. He has reported on:

The U.S. Embassy in South Sudan commended David for his "professionalism and commitment to excellence," noting that government “security forces commonly intimidate, harass, beat up, detain, and imprison journalists; confiscate equipment; and restrict journalists’ movements.” At least 10 journalists have been killed in South Sudan since 2014, according to Reporters Without Borders.

Yet, because journalists hold the 11-year-old nation’s government accountable and provide citizens with reliable information, they “are indispensable to the functioning of democracy, here in South Sudan and worldwide.” the embassy wrote.

David doesn't pay himself a salary for serving as managing editor of The Insider, an independent investigative-news site in South Sudan.

I became acquainted and impressed with David when he came to Indianapolis in 2019 as the winner of a Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a U.S. State Department program.

Since then, David has

The Insider’s staff in 2021 included (from left) Anne Waithera, Joyce Kimani, Priscilla Njambi, Sharon Tonui, Linda Apollo and Pierra Jecy Nyaruai.

With four of five South Sudanese subsisting below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day, David has found it hard to sustain a media business. He doesn't pay himself a salary, but to keep paying The Insider’s remaining six journalists, he has an innovative idea to generate revenue:

Circulate a PDF newspaper on the WhatsApp messaging app, which is ubiquitous in South Sudan. Doing so would allow him to:

Contributing to this GoFundMe campaign will pay for developing this PDF newspaper on WhatsApp. As the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis said, “We are one people, one family, the human family, and what affects one of us affects us all.” I hope you’ll join me in donating.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ):

1. Who am I? I’ve been a longtime journalist in the United States and a journalism educator around the world. I’ve taught in the United States, Burma, Romania, China, Nepal and on a floating university campus: Semester at Sea.

2. Why am I setting up this fundraiser to help David? I have been a long-distance mentor to David since 2019, when he visited Indiana, where I live. I set up this fundraiser for him because I believe in him and his commitment to press freedom in South Sudan. Democracies – new and old – cannot survive unless citizens have accurate, fact-based news and information to make decisions. The South Sudanese deserve access to that kind of reliable information, which David’s The Insider news site provides. Yet, the discretionary income from citizens to support The Insider and other independent media in South Sudan is minimal.

3. How will the money be used? The funds will go to David to put The Insider on a more sustainable footing by developing a PDF newspaper for distribution on WhatsApp.

4. How will I get the money to David? I will transfer all the funds this campaign collects, less GoFundMe’s transaction fee of 2.9% and $0.30, to David’s U.S. bank account to sustain The Insider. (David cannot set up a GoFundMe campaign for himself because GoFundMe does not operate in South Sudan.)