Experts: Media play key role in promoting peace, unity and reconciliation

DAR ES SALAAM: JOURNALISM is a powerful force that can either unite a nation or quietly tear it apart, experts have warned, urging media practitioners to embrace their responsibility in promoting peace and national cohesion.

Dr Egbert Mkoko, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the media holds significant influence in shaping public perception and the direction of society.

“Journalism is a powerful force in society — it can connect people, strengthen democracy and drive development. But it can also divide communities, spread fear and destabilise a nation,” Dr Mkoko said, noting that the stories journalists choose to tell ultimately shape the kind of society they build.

He said responsible journalism plays a critical role in promoting peace, preventing conflict and reducing misinformation by providing accurate and verified information that can calm public anxiety and counter rumours. Dr Mkoko said journalism should be viewed not merely as a reporting tool but as an instrument of nation-building, urging practitioners to adopt a development-oriented approach that focuses on solutions, progress and opportunities rather than amplifying problems alone.

Such an approach, he said, would help shape national identity, support long-term development goals and encourage meaningful public participation in national dialogue, while holding leaders accountable in a constructive and balanced manner.

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However, he cautioned against harmful practices including hate speech, misinformation, sensationalism and publishing unverified content, warning that these could trigger violence, erode public trust in the media and undermine national stability.

“A nation is built by the stories it tells,” he added, urging journalists to prioritise narratives that unite and inform. Advocate Patrick Kipangula, Acting Executive Director of the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB), echoed the views, saying journalists occupy a strategic position as a bridge between the government and the public, particularly during periods of political, social and economic change.

“What journalists report, and how they frame their stories, can either foster trust and cohesion or deepen divisions within society,” Adv Kipangula said, insisting peace, stability, and national unity are Tanzania’s assets that should be shaped daily by media content.

He defined peace as the absence of conflict, stability as a sense of safety in people’s lives, national unity as cohesion beyond ethnic, religious or political differences, and reconciliation as the restoration of relationships after conflict.

Adv. Kipangula said these principles should guide journalistic practice, stressing the importance of accuracy, balance and accountability.

He urged journalists to verify information before publication and avoid inflammatory language that could incite tension or conflict. “A single headline can calm a nation or provoke unrest,” he said.

Adv Kipangula stressed that journalism must be practised with professionalism, integrity and a strong sense of public responsibility, noting that the pen and microphone remain powerful tools that, when used responsibly, can help build a peaceful, united and resilient nation.

Dr Mkoko also underscored the role of editors as gatekeepers responsible for ensuring ethical standards are upheld and harmful content is filtered out. He called on media organisations to strengthen newsroom systems through factchecking mechanisms, conflict-sensitive reporting guidelines, continuous professional training and stronger editorial oversight.

The don said journalists have a unique opportunity to strengthen national cohesion by telling stories that bring people together, amplifying diverse voices and promoting shared national achievements.

He underscored the need for closer collaboration between the government and media stakeholders to create an enabling environment for responsible journalism, including timely access to information and capacity building.