MIYONG KUON

My name is Miyong Gatuor Kuon. I am a husband and father of seven children. I am also a journalist whose life journey has been shaped by war, displacement, and the search for truth. My experiences as a refugee, media professional, and public servant have profoundly influenced my commitment to journalism and public communication.

I came to the United States from South Sudan in 1995 as a refugee. I settled first in Nashville, Tennessee. I was together with my twin younger brothers, who were only nine years old at the time. We fled decades of civil war in Sudan like many refugee families. We arrived in America seeking safety. We also sought the opportunity to rebuild our lives. Adjusting to a new country, culture, and education system was challenging. Yet, it also strengthened my determination to pursue education. It fueled my wish to contribute to society.

I lived in Tennessee for about three months. Then, I moved to California, where I spent seven years. In 2001, I relocated to Nebraska. I enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the School of Communication. I also obtained a minor in Cultural Diversity. My academic training deepened my understanding of media’s role in shaping public discourse, promoting accountability, and strengthening democratic institutions.

My passion for storytelling led me to work briefly as a freelance journalist in the United States. However, my desire to contribute to the development of my homeland brought me back to South Sudan. There, I worked at South Sudan Television. I gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism. It was during a critical period in the country’s political transformation.

In 2008, I was appointed Assistant Director of Communications. I worked in the Office of the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan. I helped coordinate public communication during the final years leading up to independence. South Sudan became the world’s newest nation in 2011. I later served as a diplomat at the South Sudan Mission to the United Nations. I represented the young country during its formative years in the international community.

Yet, the hopes of independence were soon overshadowed by political conflict and civil war. Once again, I saw the devastating consequences of violence, misinformation, and political division. This experience reinforced my belief that responsible journalism and credible media institutions are essential for peace, democracy, and nation-building.

These experiences ultimately brought me back to the United States, where I decided to continue my academic journey. I am now pursuing graduate studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. My goal is to earn a master’s degree and eventually a Ph.D. in journalism and media studies. My academic interests focus on media ethics, democratic governance, and the role of journalism in conflict and post-conflict societies.

I aim to contribute to building stronger, more ethical media institutions. I hope to achieve this through my academic work, professional experience, and community engagement. These institutions can promote accountability, dialogue, and peace in fragile democracies. My journey, from refugee camps to international diplomacy and graduate scholarship, has shaped my belief. Truthful and responsible journalism is not merely a profession. It is a public service essential to the future of democratic societies.