CRITICAL MIND
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- Sep 1, 2013
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[h=2]Tanzania journalists in politicians' pockets [/h]
Tanzania journalists in politicians' pockets
THE just ended Parliament sitting left the Attorney General, Justice Frederick Werema, deeply embarrassed.
Why? Because legislators from the ruling party joined forces with the opposition MPs to throw his proposals to amend the 1976 News paper Act to hike the penalty for journalists writing seditious stories.
It is either the AG office was ill prepared or CCM MPs had a hidden agenda because legislators from the ruling party are not expected to turn down the Government's proposal in Parliament.
Werema said legislators who opposed his proposals were doing so to please the media because the politicians need it to become who they are!
The media-politicians relations in Tanzania leave a lot to be desired. Who is using who?
President Jakaya Kikwete is well informed about what is going on in media houses. Speaking at the function to award best journalists who excelled in 2011, the Head of State, urged journalists to avoid hate speeches if peace and harmony were to be protected in the society.
Kikwete reminded journalists of their noble responsibility to write nothing but the truth and keep away from biasness. He urged journalists to stop hurting other people with painful stories without substantiating proof.
"Avoid writing stories without establishing the truth first. You sometimes hurt innocent people. Choose what to put on your papers. Abide by ethics of your noble profession. Choose some decent pictures to put in your papers" he said.
Claims of some reporters or even editors being bribed to hurt others as the country heads to the 2015 cannot be underestimated. No one is going to respect a journalist who is in the pocket of a tycoon/politician, who demands bribes, a hypocrite or a reporter who indulge himself. Reporting true and accurate stories is the only weapon to restore respect and dignity which the journalism career deserves.
If the written laws miscellaneous amendments (No 3) Act of 2013 which aimed to amend the 1976 News paper Act were to be passed by the National Assembly, would see journalists being penalized by up to 1,500,000/- fines for alleged seditious articles.
The Kigoma Town MP, Peter Serukamba (CCM), though he didn't oppose the fines, he asked the state to review the entire Newspaper Act.
Let's be clear. Although Serukamba's idea was supported by both CCM and opposition MPs, it doesn't mean that all legislators care for journalists' welfare.
Defending the Government's proposals, Werema made an interesting statement, which I think, conveyed a strong message to both politicians and journalists.
"I will never withdraw the government proposals because I am sure they are for the public good". He added: "I don't need to please the media because I don't need it to become who I am"
It is entirely true that Werema didn't need the media to become a judge or AG. However most of politicians depend heavily on the media to succeed.
But who is using who? Are journalists using politicians or politicians using journalists to meet their political ends? Are journalists in the pockets of politicians and why? Coward politicians have the habit of bribing some journalists to solicit positive reporting especially in newspapers.
Because of greedy or meager pay by some media houses, a sizeable number of journalists have fallen prey to unscrupulous bigwigs.
Let's not hide the problem here. There is a wave of journalists who have started to do whatever it takes to please the 2015 presidential aspirants with a dream of being rewarded after elections.
It is disappointing to note that greedy for positions and money has made some journalists to work for politicians and tycoons and not the public.
Some politicians started to use journalists during the 2005 general election in which some media houses embarked on smear campaign against some CCM presidential hopefuls. For example, some papers were awash of negative stories about Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, the former Prime Minister, blatantly claiming that he was not a presidential material.
It was ridiculous. Dr Salim is an upright man capable of leading this nation. Remember, Dr Salim, was the Secretary General of the defunct Organization of African Union (OAU) for twelve years. How can you say this man is not a presidential material? It was such a shame to newspapers who paraded such a rubbish campaign.
Why would a media house try to convince the public that Dr Wilbroad Slaa is unfit for presidency? It is also a shame when the media start to target politicians because of the color of their skin. A famous local political analyst, Privatus Karugendo, is of the opinion that the current system has let some of the media outlets to fall on the pockets of politicians or tycoons.
He says corrupt media houses cannot guarantee the nation the better future. Karugendo also says the system where the media is run by politicians is not acceptable all over the world.
Director of the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF), Ernest Sungura, says, journalists should stop relying heavily on politicians for news. He says, journalists must follow the ethics.
The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) must continue to fight against oppressive media laws. At the same time, try to stop politicians who want to reduce journalists into mere puppets.
This can be achieved if the Tanzania Editors' Forum teaches journalists to embark on impartiality and refrain from being too ‘despicable' and hypocrites.
Politicians, non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and public relations firms pay bribes to get their stories published or aired if they have established a ‘good' relationship with reporters, media experts said.
A seasoned journalist, Makwaia wa Kuhenga, says corruption in the media is a reflection of moral decay in society, and he urges young journalists to resist the temptation.
MCT states in its code of ethics that a journalist, editor or media manager "shall ensure that neither him nor her, nor any of the employees take gifts or bribes in cash or kind in the course of duty or off duty".
Experts in mass communications say media corruption has become a common phenomenon throughout Africa. The practice of giving bribes to journalists even has its own name in some countries – "msiko" in Tanzania "soli" in Ghana and "gombo" in Cameroon.
Source: The African November 18, 2013
Tanzania journalists in politicians' pockets
THE just ended Parliament sitting left the Attorney General, Justice Frederick Werema, deeply embarrassed.
Why? Because legislators from the ruling party joined forces with the opposition MPs to throw his proposals to amend the 1976 News paper Act to hike the penalty for journalists writing seditious stories.
It is either the AG office was ill prepared or CCM MPs had a hidden agenda because legislators from the ruling party are not expected to turn down the Government's proposal in Parliament.
Werema said legislators who opposed his proposals were doing so to please the media because the politicians need it to become who they are!
The media-politicians relations in Tanzania leave a lot to be desired. Who is using who?
President Jakaya Kikwete is well informed about what is going on in media houses. Speaking at the function to award best journalists who excelled in 2011, the Head of State, urged journalists to avoid hate speeches if peace and harmony were to be protected in the society.
Kikwete reminded journalists of their noble responsibility to write nothing but the truth and keep away from biasness. He urged journalists to stop hurting other people with painful stories without substantiating proof.
"Avoid writing stories without establishing the truth first. You sometimes hurt innocent people. Choose what to put on your papers. Abide by ethics of your noble profession. Choose some decent pictures to put in your papers" he said.
Claims of some reporters or even editors being bribed to hurt others as the country heads to the 2015 cannot be underestimated. No one is going to respect a journalist who is in the pocket of a tycoon/politician, who demands bribes, a hypocrite or a reporter who indulge himself. Reporting true and accurate stories is the only weapon to restore respect and dignity which the journalism career deserves.
If the written laws miscellaneous amendments (No 3) Act of 2013 which aimed to amend the 1976 News paper Act were to be passed by the National Assembly, would see journalists being penalized by up to 1,500,000/- fines for alleged seditious articles.
The Kigoma Town MP, Peter Serukamba (CCM), though he didn't oppose the fines, he asked the state to review the entire Newspaper Act.
Let's be clear. Although Serukamba's idea was supported by both CCM and opposition MPs, it doesn't mean that all legislators care for journalists' welfare.
Defending the Government's proposals, Werema made an interesting statement, which I think, conveyed a strong message to both politicians and journalists.
"I will never withdraw the government proposals because I am sure they are for the public good". He added: "I don't need to please the media because I don't need it to become who I am"
It is entirely true that Werema didn't need the media to become a judge or AG. However most of politicians depend heavily on the media to succeed.
But who is using who? Are journalists using politicians or politicians using journalists to meet their political ends? Are journalists in the pockets of politicians and why? Coward politicians have the habit of bribing some journalists to solicit positive reporting especially in newspapers.
Because of greedy or meager pay by some media houses, a sizeable number of journalists have fallen prey to unscrupulous bigwigs.
Let's not hide the problem here. There is a wave of journalists who have started to do whatever it takes to please the 2015 presidential aspirants with a dream of being rewarded after elections.
It is disappointing to note that greedy for positions and money has made some journalists to work for politicians and tycoons and not the public.
Some politicians started to use journalists during the 2005 general election in which some media houses embarked on smear campaign against some CCM presidential hopefuls. For example, some papers were awash of negative stories about Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, the former Prime Minister, blatantly claiming that he was not a presidential material.
It was ridiculous. Dr Salim is an upright man capable of leading this nation. Remember, Dr Salim, was the Secretary General of the defunct Organization of African Union (OAU) for twelve years. How can you say this man is not a presidential material? It was such a shame to newspapers who paraded such a rubbish campaign.
Why would a media house try to convince the public that Dr Wilbroad Slaa is unfit for presidency? It is also a shame when the media start to target politicians because of the color of their skin. A famous local political analyst, Privatus Karugendo, is of the opinion that the current system has let some of the media outlets to fall on the pockets of politicians or tycoons.
He says corrupt media houses cannot guarantee the nation the better future. Karugendo also says the system where the media is run by politicians is not acceptable all over the world.
Director of the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF), Ernest Sungura, says, journalists should stop relying heavily on politicians for news. He says, journalists must follow the ethics.
The Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) must continue to fight against oppressive media laws. At the same time, try to stop politicians who want to reduce journalists into mere puppets.
This can be achieved if the Tanzania Editors' Forum teaches journalists to embark on impartiality and refrain from being too ‘despicable' and hypocrites.
Politicians, non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and public relations firms pay bribes to get their stories published or aired if they have established a ‘good' relationship with reporters, media experts said.
A seasoned journalist, Makwaia wa Kuhenga, says corruption in the media is a reflection of moral decay in society, and he urges young journalists to resist the temptation.
MCT states in its code of ethics that a journalist, editor or media manager "shall ensure that neither him nor her, nor any of the employees take gifts or bribes in cash or kind in the course of duty or off duty".
Experts in mass communications say media corruption has become a common phenomenon throughout Africa. The practice of giving bribes to journalists even has its own name in some countries – "msiko" in Tanzania "soli" in Ghana and "gombo" in Cameroon.
Source: The African November 18, 2013
