Tanzania: Media, instrument for social control [opnion]

Experiences in many democratic countries show that the media have a very big role to play towards promoting free and fair elections.

 

That is because they have a strong social and cultural impact upon society. This is predicated upon their ability to reach a wide audience with a strong and influential message.

 

Before the elections, for example, the media, both electronic and the print, can promote people's understanding on the importance of taking part in the exercise including their rights as bonafide citizens.

 

Experience in many developing countries, Tanzania is of no exception, shows that a significant number of media outlets do not play this role effectively.

 

Only a few days ago, the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), in conjunction with Union of Press Clubs (UPC) issued an assessment report on the extent to which media coverage adhered to professionalism during the October 2005 general elections.

 

The findings of the Civic Elections Monitoring Project indicated among other things, weaknesses among both state-run and privately-owned newspapers in the treatment of stories related to the polls.

 

It was found in the assessment that the civic elections agenda was not clearly articulated to help voters acquire accurate information about the electoral process and about the contestants from various competing political parties.

 

"Objectively, not all the monitored public and private newspapers gave adequate coverage to civic elections-related stories during the two-month monitoring exercise," reads the report.

 

 Several local and foreign experts have also expressed concern over a number of faults by some media houses during the 2005 elections including outright bias against or in favour of certain candidates or parties.

 

Such an attitude, they say, manifests irresponsible press which could do more harm than good to the public such as misleading the electorate as well as causing violence.

 

As Tanzania heads towards general election this October, it becomes pertinent for the media to abide by code of conduct that govern their operations.

 

During the election campaigns, for instance, the media has a role to inform the citizens about the competing political parties, their respective programmes and candidates, and to help the electorate make wise decisions.

 

During this period the media can enlighten voters on various things, such as making a critical analysis of the performance of incumbent political leaders and the government in power in general.

 

Other roles may include provision of general voter education on top of what is provided by the National Electoral Commission.

 

One media scholar has noted: "The media are sometimes manipulated by the governing party (especially if the media is state-owned) to report in its favour. Manipulation can take place during preparation of programmes as well as in writing of reports and news stories.

 

Propaganda may also be disseminated under the guise of objective public information by the government. The danger of misuse of government power for campaigning purposes can be limited if laws and regulations are in place to regulate the role of the media in the election campaign.

 

 That can only be avoided if the media stick to fair and objective reporting and information dissemination.

 

One of the major challenges besieging the Tanzania media is corruption, sensationalism, blackmail and lack of credibility.

 

According to Justice Joseph Warioba, reporters accept bribes in order to publish or bury information that glorifies or destroys the reputation of persons or institutions. Often, freedom of expression has been used as subterfuge to undertake personal vendetta or promote 'blood-thirsty' journalism.

 

A seasoned journalist, Mr Mangengesa Mdimi of the Tanzania Standard Newspapers (TSN), publishers of the 'Daily News' and 'HabariLeo' newspapers, says corruption in all its forms compromises integrity of reporters.

 

"Once a journalist accepts corruption, it will obviously affect his or her impartiality in reporting issues that could be of public interest. Corruption has always ruined not only a reputation of journalists but also that of the media outlet in which he or she works for," he noted.

 

'HabariLeo' Chief Editor Joseph Kulangwa, says corruption in the media has become rampant and so it has adversely affected performance of the industry as: "

 

In most cases, corruption dictates journalists' thinking, and by doing so, they are sometimes obliged to hide, manipulate or even get involved in concoction of news stories," he said.

 

TSN Assistant Editor Gabby Mgaya, says that the local media practitioners can only maintain their credibility by adhering to professionalism and distance themselves from accepting bribes that put them into a conflict of interest.

 

"It is obvious that once a journalist accepts money or gifts from a political candidate or any other source of information, his or her mind becomes influenced and thus can no longer work independently," says Mr Mgaya.

 

He says during the election campaigns, for instance, journalists need to be courageous and bold enough to minimize political pressure that could erode their editorial independence.

 

"And we journalists need to provide coverage that involves nearly all key stakeholders such as politicians, electoral body (NEC), voters and activists," he says.

 

- March 22, 2010 by Dassu Stephen

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Source: www.dailynews.co.tz/feature/ (accessed on 23.03.10)