CITIZEN JOURNALISM IN
TANZANIA
What is Citizen Journalism?
"It is a kind of journalism that allows members of the public
to play an active role in collecting, analyzing and disseminating news and
information. It is actually an alternative media with outlets not similar to
conventional newspapers, radio and television.
In Tanzania, citizen journalism started in 2005 general
elections. Citizens use internet to exchange information on profiles of
potential candidates, especially those vying for presidency.
On the other hand, more 70 percent of practicing journalists
in Tanzania are not trained journalists. This is an impediment that pushes them
into embracing partisanship in writing their news stories which reflect their
political, religions and tribal affiliations.
Such journalists’ performance easily degenerate and turns
them into Public Relations Officers
(PROs) for this or that shot, negatively impacting on the role of media as a
watchdog institution."
SOURCE: SCRIBES JOURNAL
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISM 2010 (MCT).
