Media challenged on peace role

The senior citizen made the call in Dar es Salaam on Monday, 24 June 2013, in his opening address at a symposium organised by the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) with a theme "Role of the media in combating hate speech and extremism."

"Media practitioners should be ethical, honest and fair. They must stand firm against anti- oppression or unfair treatment," said Bomani, who has held various positions in the government, to over 100 participants at the event.

He praised MCT for organising the symposium, saying it has come at the right time as the country is seeing indicators that could fuel chaos in the country. The former AG also urged journalists to acquire more knowledge through education so that they can efficiently accomplish their work.

"If possible journalists should specialise on respective issues to able to under and analyse local and foreign events and report it to the public," he noted.

Presenting a paper titled "Why the Tanzania media should fight escalating sectarianism," veteran journalist Makwaia wa Kuhenga said the media should focus its coverage on issues of national interest.

"In the past, there were very few media outlets and all focused on national unity and interests of the majority rather than a minority of people in the society," the renowned columnist and TV host said.

Kuhenga noted that the local media at that time did not only give priority to national interests, but also played a critical role in the liberation struggle for countries in Southern Africa."

Participants at the symposium were of the view that the free market economy that has been propagated by the West is responsible for the decay of morals and ethics in journalism and society in general.

Source: allAfrica