School of Journalism and Mass Communication

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Browsing School of Journalism and Mass Communication by Subject "Media Accountability"

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    Media Accountability in Tanzania's Multiparty Democracy: Does Self-regulation Work?
    (Tampere University Press, 2012) Rioba, Ayub
    In this research I set out to interrogate the effectiveness of an independent and voluntary media council, in spearheading self-regulation of media in a young democracy. My focus was on the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), which was introduced in 1995 after the country had embarked on liberal democratic reforms. While many countries in Africa are turning to Tanzania to learn from the experience of the MCT in spearheading self-regulation of media, there appears to be a conspicuous lack of comprehensive knowledge about the effectiveness of the mechanism in ensuring media accountability. For example, in which ways do historical realities in Africa support notions such as liberal democracy and self-regulation that were re-introduced to Africa in the early 1990s? Or is there any evidence which suggests that self-regulation, spearheaded by a voluntary media council like MCT, can be effective in promoting media freedom and accountability in a young democracy like Tanzania? What do journalists and other media stakeholders think about the effectiveness of an independent, voluntary and non-statutory council like the MCT in spearheading self-regulation? Five key conclusions emerge from the findings of this research. Firstly, most respondents view liberal democracy which has characterized Tanzania s reform process since mid 1980s and 1990s as inimical to transformative and liberatory needs of Tanzanians in general because it has largely responded to the dictates of international financial institutions as well as donors. Secondly, most respondents do not differentiate the functions of media in general from the role of media in democracy although they demonstrate a clear understanding of the difficulties of their role in the new democratic dispensation. Thirdly, most respondents in all the three approaches of this study view media laws, ownership interference, politicians as well as corporate sector s influence on their work as major obstacles to their role in promoting and sustaining democracy. In general respondents further express concern about irresponsible journalism caused by lack of professionalism, poor pay, corruption and conflict of interests which, according to some of them, can be addressed by either government intervention or through a statutory media council. Fourthly, although respondents generally view MCT as a necessary mechanism to foster self-regulation as opposed to government control they still view it as ineffective and in need of teeth to make its decisions binding. Fifthly, although the MCT seems to have played a significant role in spearheading self-regulation of media as cases brought before it for arbitration demonstrate, its effectiveness seems to be limited.
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    Media In Tanzania’s Transition To Multiparty Democracy - An Assessment of Policy and Ethical Issues
    (2009-02-18) Rioba, Ayub
    This study reviews and analyses the factors that have influenced media developments in Tanzania during the transition from one party socialist system to multiparty democracy. With a strong focus on policy as well as ethical issues, the study dwells more on how policy formulation in Tanzania has affected the role the mass media have played - and continue to play - in the new economic, political and social transformation. Chapter two gives a bird's eye view of the media sector in Tanzania, especially events and issues that have shaped the sector's policies before and during the transition period, and how these, in turn, have impacted on the effectiveness of the media industry in playing its democratic roles today. Chapter three addresses the contradiction that exists in the values that inform political and economic reforms on one hand and the media sector on the other. The premise of this position is that economic and political reforms do not occur in a vacuum because they tend to affect a system of existing values and practices in a society in which they are implemented. Whereas Tanzania has, in the last two decades, embarked on reforms that support pluralistic democracy, there appear to be a conspicuous - though ominous - resistance to reforming the media regulatory framework. Nevertheless, even the existing draconian laws have not helped to promote ethical journalism as one would have thought. The chapter also gives an assessment of information (and media) policy formulation from post-independence period (1961) to the present time showing yet another contradiction that exists in reforming the media sector. Whereas the new Information and Broadcasting Policy of 2003 explicitly emphasises the need to promote press freedom and access to information - including the need to repeal and replace the current draconian laws with an appropriate media Act - the government has continued to drag its feet, suggesting that it would still wish to tame the media. Chapter four focuses on some crucial issues relating to the role of media in a democracy, which have characterized debates in Tanzania. They include: the quest for Freedom of Information Act in Tanzania, the role of media in promoting peace, and the role of media in promoting good governance. The Fifth chapter, which resulted from a separate empirical study, examines perceptions of Tanzanian journalists on such issues as the role of media in a democracy as well as sources of their ethical convictions. Chapter Six gives a brief review of the role of the Media Council of Tanzania and underscores the importance of self-regulation as an effective way of promoting media responsibility and press freedom in a democracy.