Journalists’ accreditation board operations to kick off soon
DODOMA: THE recently appointed Journalists’ Accreditation Board is expected to begin its work shortly, Parliament was informed yesterday.
The Deputy Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Mr Hamis Mwinjuma, told the House that the sixmember board, led by veteran journalist Tido Mhando, will help ensure journalists adhere to professional standards.
The deputy minister was responding to a supplementary question posed by Special Seats lawmaker, Tauhida Gallos (CCM) raised concerns about non-professional journalists, particularly their online publications that violate professional ethics.
Makete MP Festo Sanga echoed these concerns, asking about the government’s plans to regulate media owners who hire non-professionals.
Responding, Mr Mwinjuma said already, the government had appointed the Journalists Accreditation Board which was set to kick off its operations in the next few days.
“When it becomes effective, I believe the board will supervise the law and ensure that media ethics are abided by,’’ said the deputy minister.
Prior to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s decision to transfer the Information Sector to Culture Arts and Sports, the then Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Jerry Silaa had formed the Journalists Accreditation Board and appointed veteran journalist, Dustan Tido Mhando as its chair.
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According to the statement released in September last year by the ministry the board was established in accordance with Section 11 of the Media Services Act No 12 of 2016.
He also appointed five board members including Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN) Acting Manager of Kiswahili Media Services, Mr Mgaya Kingoba.
Other members are Chief Government Spokesperson and the Director of Information Services-MAELEZO, Gerson Msigwa, a lecturer of School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) of the University of Dar es Salaam, Dr Egbert Mkoko, the Executive Director of the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) Dr Rose Reuben and a Senior State Attorney, Ladislaus Komanya.
During her main question in the august House yesterday, the Special Seats legislator had wanted to know how the government was ensuring that mushrooming of online media was not contravening ethics and the country’s culture.
In response, Mr Mwinjuma said that in efforts to cope with the changing technologies especially on the content provided via internet, the government through the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) was ensuring that the content provided does not contravene ethics and culture of the country.
“TCRA has been providing licences for online content based on the applications that meet legal qualifications as well as taking legal actions including revoking licences of those contravening ethics and regulations,’’ he said.
