Media Watch Match 2021
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March/April, 2012 Waliomeremeta Issue No. 202 March, 2021 EJAT… Scribes honed on winning entries News News News Why local Magufuli Sorting of media only legacy on EJAT entries reacted media Page 7 Page 9 Page 13 MCT, WINNER OF 2003 IPI FREE MEDIA PIONEER EDITORIAL AWARD Unfriendly media laws should be improved adam President Samia Suluhu Hassan, greetings and congratulations.Congratulations for assuming responsibilities of the highest office on the land. We are conscious of the gigantic tasks and challenges facing you, but we strongly believe you will prevail.M Madam President during your inauguration – when you took the oath of office, in your brief speech you came out clearly and praised the media for outstanding coverage of the developments and events on the passing on of the late President John Magufuli. We appreciate your acknowledgement on the role played by the media in the historical event. It is true that all along in this nation, the media role has been pivotal. The country managed to score development goals – urging for crop production, sensitizing on building classrooms, providing desks, building hostels for girls Editorial Board in schools, fighting genital mutilations, provision of clean water and rural electricity and mobilization of tax collection - just to cite a few examples Kajubi Mukajanga – by using the media. MCT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY However despite its immense contribution in national development, in the last few years, the media has experienced tough times. The working environment of the media has been bumpy following the enactment of pieces of legislation which instead of nurturing the industry to progress, place tight Hamis Mzee EDITOR controls whose overall impact is to prevent robust, independent journalism. It is pity that after 60 years of independence, and the positive role played by the media, such an unfriendly legal regime is put in place. We are not saying that having laws and regulation is bad as such. However, they should gear to spur progress instead of squeezing space for freedom of expression and press freedom. Some media houses have closed business rendering hundreds of workers jobless, others are in financial quagmire failing to pay salaries for several months. True, apart from the legal regime, the general business context, has changed; but having laws that hinder free and professional practice has not helped matters. It is time the negative perception of the media is reversed, unfriendly laws amended and improved to allow the industry to function professionally and profitably. Judgments by the courts to unban some publications that have been ignored should be implemented and those media outlets which had their licenses revoked should be licensed again and allowed to operate. The landmark judgment by the East African Court of Justice listing 16 sections of the Media Services Act as hindering press freedom and freedom Journalists drawn from various media of expression, and requiring the government to amend the law, should now outlets in the country follow closely be implemented. It is important that media should be regarded as a thought presentations during a master class provoking vehicle for promoting development instead of the negative perception organized by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT). that it instigates sedition. 2 March 2021 News Journalists captured during the master class organized by the Media Council of Tanzania held in Dar es Salaam. veteran photographer Khalfan Said and versatile cartoonist Nathan Mpangala to share experience and expose the participants to what it takes to get and present award winning stories, photos Journalists and editorial cartoons. All facilitators specifically selected for the Master Class were former judges in the Excellency in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT), an annual honed on what event to award media practitioners in recognition of outstanding performance. EJAT is organized by MCT in collaboration with partners. Among the issues that Ndimara told the participants is that they should read it takes to win extensively and should have a burning desire for a good story without which he said success will be elusive, adding that verification of facts is pertinent. His presentation on writing winning EJAT prize stories included such points as:- • Carefully determining the idea By MW Reporter The master class was organized on which you want to build your by the Media Council of Tanzania in product/story or two days, March 4 and 5, 2021 collaboration with Human Development • What is the subject of the idea you media practitioners drawn from Innovation Fund (HDIF). want to pursue various regions in the country Veteran journalist, publisher , media • What do you know about the idea/ attended a master class on how consultant and mentor Ndimara subject Fto improve story writing, photo taking Tegambwage was teamed up with senior • Who else know (s) anything about and editorial cartoons. editor Hassan Mhelela of Azam Media, that idea/subject Continues on page 4 3 Media Council of Tanzania Newsletter News Journalists honed on what it takes to win EJAT prize From page 3 • Why do you want to write about that area/subject • Who have you in mind as your audience • What public significance/utility has this idea • What urgency has this idea/subject • What novelty is/has this idea/ subject • What do you want to achieve • Getting down to story-telling with a purpose On content of the winning stories Ndimara said they must be told compellingly with accurate facts, figures and concrete evidence. On packaging, he said the stories must capture the target audience from start to finish and enable them to see and appreciate the writer’s efforts. However he cautioned that would-be winning stories could be killed by mess-ups by incompetent sub-editors, or of editor, absence of entrepreneurial spirit, premature delivery, lack of completeness by not carrying more verified information, more sources and more viewpoints, and absence of research and extensive reading. Mhelela whose presentation was on Award Winning Journalism for Radio, Television and Online media elucidated broadly on TV, radio and online presentations and emphasized on quality of photos. He advised journalists to share their story ideas with their seniors. Journalism cannot be compromised, he said, and appealed for increased accuracy especially on on-line presentations. Mhelela highlighted prominence, proximity, currency, timeliness, conflict, impact, human interest, and oddity as requisite ingredients of news. He told the participants of the Media trainer, mentor and consultant, Ndimara Tegambwage facilitates during the master Continues on page 6 class for journalists drawn from various media outlets in the country. 4 March 2021 News Editors attend a luncheon meeting organized by the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF). support the industry. Others were of the opinion that media houses should operate Editors deliberate with business plans and discard the tendency of operating on routine basis. Media business is not tenable for most media houses, most editors on shaky future concurred pointing out that it was impossible to depend for prosperity on newspaper sales. Fear has permeated the industry resulting into self-censorship and no of media serious investigative stories can see the light of the day especially during By MW Reporter pathetic with sales on the downturn, this period in time where restrictions terribly affecting circulation and on what to write, publish and advertising from the biggest advertiser broadcast have become the norm. How did we get here?” Some – the government – is elusive There were also a proposal of editors who attended a luncheon especially for critical and probing ditching stories on politics and instead on the future of the media held outlets. report on people related events and in Dar es Salaam on March 11, “What has really happened? Where development in general. “2021 repeatedly asked. are the stories which would attract However, an element of During discussions at the meeting readers?” one newspaper editor apprehension surfaced as editors organized by the Tanzania Editors who is no longer in the newsroom thought that the authorities would Forum (TEF), the reaction of most wondered. have jitters such stories would editors was akin to soul searching There was no clear-cut answer stimulate complaints from the public. as they openly wondered what had during the meeting with some editors Dilemma is what most editors felt befallen the “fourth estate”. suggesting that media houses should on the way forward for the media. The situation of the industry is start other businesses which would Continues on page 8 5 Media Council of Tanzania Newsletter News From left Photo Journalist Khalfan Said, Hassan Mhelela Editor AzamMedia and Cartoonist Nathan Mpangala who facilitated during the master class where journalists were honed on winning entries for the Excellence in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT). advanced by editors. He said though constant rejection of their work may in turn sap creativity, Journalists honed they should soldier on as cartoons are quite effective in relaying messages. MCT Programme Officer Paul Mallimbo presented criteria and regulations for participating in EJAT. on what it takes to Speaking during the Master Class, Communication officer of HDIF, Hannah Mwandoloma challenged journalists to embrace change and always ask win EJAT prize themselves why they are writing a particular story. It should not only From page 4 imperative in radio journalism, he said. be for selling but also it should bring master class that when one wants to Catchy items and good storytelling, change. She said the story should call report, he/she should ask the following good pictures and videos are crucial for for action. question: How does this affect my online journalism, he said. Opening the Master Class, the readers', listeners' or viewers’ lives? Photo journalists should prepare Executive Secretary of MCT, Kajubi If it is not new or unusual, if it is not carefully… they should not rush, Mukajanga said that EJAT has been well interesting or significant, and if it will Khalfan Said advised.