Dalton elijah
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 19, 2022
- 373
- 829
Due to the government's control over mainstream media in Tanzania, individuals now turn to social media to access alternative perspectives on government affairs, allowing them to openly challenge and criticize the administration. The open discourse challenging the administration takes place on social media platforms, particularly forums such as the Jamii Forum and the Mwanahalis Forum. Additionally, there are crucial conversations taking place both in club house and on Twitter, where scholars, politicians, and activists are actively questioning and confronting the regime
Content about politics, sports, especially popular music known as “Bongo Flavour," love stories, the lives of celebrities, and life styles have been the dominant airtime and space for most of the private media on the Tanzanian mainland, not the content about agriculture, fishing, mining, etc.
Since independence, the head of the state and the ruling party have used the state and public media as their mouthpieces, and now the state has extended its power to some of the private media. "Many media owners are politicians or have an affiliation with political parties or politicians; in one way or another, this has been affecting the editorial independence and content of many of the newsrooms and media houses on the Tanzanian mainland,” said Mr. Moses Mathew, who is a senior journalist
The primary focus of the media and journalists in Tanzania has shifted away from utilizing available resources for societal development. Instead, there is a prevalent emphasis on commercial interests and serving political agendas. This divergence from the original mandate of using media as a tool for fostering development has led to a disconnect between the media's role and the needs of the people and the nation.
To address this pressing issue, it is recommended that media practitioners and academics undertake comprehensive studies on the media system in Africa. Such research endeavors should explore the evolving dynamics of media ownership, regulatory frameworks, and journalistic practices. Moreover, there is a critical need to investigate how media can effectively contribute to the development of both the populace and the nation as a whole
During an election campaign, the watchdog media focuses on highlighting conflicts between parties, candidates, or politicians. They also scrutinize the vulnerabilities in the election process and investigate instances of hate speech, sedition, and defamation. However, their primary focus is not on analyzing the content of the candidates' manifestos. The prominent headlines in print media, primary stories from radio and TV, and dominant debates on social media platforms are those that evoke dread, anxiety, and disillusionment. The lack of positive news during elections has led to voter apathy.
In Tanzania, several media outlets and journalists hold the belief that positive events during elections are not newsworthy. Instead, they want to report on instances where the police employ tear gas to disperse protesters, and they desire the publication of images of injured or deceased individuals on social media platforms. Some social media journalists have encountered this issue.
Sources via Dotto Emmanuel Bulendu