Journalists Advised To Work Within A Professional Code Of Ethics

Friedrich Ebert Stitung (FES) Tanzania Resident Director Andreas Quasten

IRINGA: Journalists have been advised to work within a professional code of ethics and live by the ethical standards of the profession without overlooking on new media laws in place. 

The call was made yesterday by the Mbeya Regional Police Commander (RPC) Mohammed Mpinga when was closing a two-day workshop on raising media and journalists awareness on challenges posed by new media laws in Tanzania to journalists in southern highlands zone held in Mbeya region. 

The two-day awareness training was organized by Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Tanzania in association with Friedrich Ebert Stitung (FES) Tanzania who Resident Director is Andreas Quasten. 

The journalists were take through the new media legislations made by the government recently which includes Media services Act of 2016 (MSA 2016), Access To Information (ATI 2015), Statistics Act and Cybercrime Acts of 2015, Electronic and Postal Communication Act (EPOCA) 

He said that journalists have the right to obtain information, to publish, and to criticize, but information should be truthful, balanced and verified. 

RPC Mpinga noted that the media should not mislead the public, and should not distort or misuse statements made in a specific context. 

In reporting on a controversy, journalists should seek to ensure that the parties concerned have an opportunity to state their position, said RPC Mpinga. 

On the other hand, RPC Mpinga cautioned the media about media sensationalism by saying sensational stories were dangerous because it disrupt peace and tranquility in the southern highlands zone and the country at large, 

Media sensationalism is defined as the style of reporting news to public that involves use involving fear, anger, and excitement along with crude thrill undertaken through the media in order to boost your viewership, listenership, readership, ratings and lastly profits. 

On his part, Jesse Kwayu-Executive Editor, The Guardian Ltd and Coalition of Right to Information (CoRI) member challenged journalists to update their academic qualifications for those who don’t have before the grace period of five years set by the government expired in 2021. 

He said journalists should make sure they possess relevant qualifications required the new media law (MSA 2016), which states that a journalist should at least a diploma in journalism from recognized learning institution. 

Kwayu who was one of the facilitators during the media awareness training said journalism should do their journalistic job in accordance with Media Services Act of 2016 including other new media laws in place. 

James Marenga an advocate of High Court who also senior journalist urged journalists to do things in accordance with of laws of the country by avoiding entering into legal conflicts 

He said that journalists are human rights defenders must do their work diligently without conflicting with the laws of the country, hence promoting human rights and socio-economic development. 

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Tanzania Chapter National Director Gasirigwa GS said that objective of workshop was to improve knowledge, reporting skills and understanding of the media law and policy reforms. 

He said that the media training workshop was organized by MISA-TAN in collaboration with The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) a political foundation in Germany promoting democracy, god governance and social justice dating back to its foundation in 1925. 

Gasirigwa noted that the new media laws workshop 2018 attracted at least 53 journalists from Songwe, Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe and Rukwa regions. By Friday Simbaya, Mbeya