Editors forum sees 79 percent increase in solar energy reporting
DAR ES SALAAM: A new report has revealed a 79 percent increase in media coverage of solar energy use in agriculture across East Africa, with stories rising from 63 in 2023 to 113 in 2024.
The report shows that newspapers led in publishing such stories (65.1percent), with Tanzania ranking third after Kenya and Uganda in content production.
Chairperson of the Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), Deodatus Balile, attributed the growth to specialized training offered to journalists in 2023 on the role of clean energy in sustainable agriculture.
He emphasized the media’s responsibility to push the clean energy agenda, particularly in areas like irrigation and post-harvest preservation.
The report, presented by Dr Darius Mukiza of the Africa Center for Media Excellence (ACME), noted that 47 journalists from six media houses in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda were trained under the program.
Kenya led in story output with 43 articles, followed by Uganda (36) and Tanzania (34). However, most stories were placed on inner pages, showing limited prioritization in mainstream media
ALSO READ: Austria’s UniCredit Bank agrees to fund Tanzania’s solar energy project
While source diversity improved, the report highlighted gender imbalance, with men’s voices dominating 74 percent of the stories. New solar technologies also received little to no coverage.
The report recommends further training for journalists and editors, focusing on in-depth reporting using data, expert analysis, and inclusive gender representation in solar energy coverage.
