Kabudi stresses responsible journalism, hails TSN role
DAR ES SALAAM: MINISTER for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Professor Palamagamba Kabudi, has underlined the importance of development journalism, responsible reporting and artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among journalists as key drivers in enhancing the mass media’s contribution to national development.
Prof Kabudi said that development journalism aims to inform citizens about the socio-economic and political progress Tanzania has made, ensuring that these achievements are well-known both within the country and internationally, while also promoting the positive image of the nation.
During his visit at the Tanzania Standard (Newspapers) Limited (TSN) headquarters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, where he took the opportunity to familiarise himself with the organisation’s advancements, Prof Kabudi called on media outlets to adopt development journalism.
“I would like to see our newspapers return to the foundational principles of journalism effectively updating citizens on the various transformations the government is implementing for collective prosperity. This model of reporting is none other than development journalism,” Prof Kabudi said.
“As our country continues its ambitious development agenda, it requires media coverage to ensure these achievements are widely shared.”
Prof Kabudi noted that since independence, Tanzania has made great development strides and significant transformations in various sectors that need to be reported.
He pointed to several key achievements, including the government’s near 100 per cent rural electrification this year under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, emphasising that such accomplishments require extensive media coverage to highlight their impact on citizens’ lives.
Other notable achievements include the construction of new classrooms and schools, hospitals, health centres and dispensaries, the expansion of road networks and the development of airports and ports—contributions to the country’s socio-economic growth.
Prof Kabudi said Tanzania, despite its diverse ethnic makeup of over 120 tribes, has a history of relative social and political stability compared to many other African nations. However, he also challenged journalists to report on both urban and rural issues, critiquing the tendency of media outlets to neglect news from rural areas.
He reminded journalists to highlight the contributions of national heroes in various fields such as innovation and science, underscoring the importance of recognising those who have made significant contributions to the country’s welfare.
“We must honour our heroes and be proud of our nation’s accomplishments,” Prof Kabudi said.
The Minister also praised TSN, which publishes Daily News, HabariLEO, Sunday News, SpotiLEO, and Daily News Digital, for continuously updating citizens through special coverage on various activities, including the implementation of government projects aimed at enhancing prosperity.
Furthermore, Prof Kabudi encouraged journalists to embrace investigative journalism as a tool to enforce accountability.
He explained that investigative journalism, which exposes issues such as corruption, misuse of power and inefficiency, is essential for holding government officials accountable, thus accelerating development.
He added that this type of journalism should also inspire innovation and help identify solutions to areas needing improvement.
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On the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), Prof Kabudi urged journalists to leverage AI effectively, while stressing that human intervention is essential to ensure the accuracy of AIgenerated information and to meet the desired targets.
He noted that AI, which relies on machine learning, requires content creators—including journalists—to digitally publish more news in both Kiswahili and English to ensure that when people search for information, it is readily available.
He also warned digital journalists to be cautious of the increasing prevalence of fake news, urging reporters to prioritise accuracy and integrity in their reporting.
In another development, Prof Kabudi inspected the TSN’s multibillion-shilling Commercial Printing Plant Project, which is currently 53.1 per cent complete.
He pledged to advocate for the timely completion of the project. On her part, TSN’s Managing Director, Ms Asha Dachi, said that once completed, the commercial printing plant will be a game-changer for the country’s printing industry.
The plant will allow TSN to diversify its portfolio by offering largescale printing services for newspapers, books, posters and documents.
It will also provide printing services to both the government and the private sector, powered by world-class publishing technology. Ms Dachi reaffirmed TSN’s commitment to remaining a key bridge between the government and citizens, ensuring in-depth news reporting, including investigative journalism.
During his visit, Prof Kabudi also engaged with TSN’s management and journalists, discussing their news-writing processes and newspaper design. He encouraged them to maintain high levels of professionalism and creativity with the goal of practicing top-quality journalism.
