Bidds Mainnet Launch

Space Summary

The Twitter Space Bidds Mainnet Launch hosted by CoreumOfficial. The Bidds Mainnet Launch Twitter Space provided valuable insights into the development of a smart blockchain solution for real-world applications. With a focus on user accessibility, security, community involvement, and scalability, Bidds aims to cater to developers and users across various industries. The platform's commitment to continuous improvement and user-friendly experiences sets it apart in the evolving blockchain landscape.

For more spaces, visit the Infrastructure page.

Questions

Q: Who is the target audience for the Bidds Mainnet Launch?
A: The mainnet aims to cater to developers and users seeking real-world blockchain solutions.

Q: How does community feedback influence the development of Bidds Mainnet?
A: Community input drives improvements, features, and user-centric design choices.

Q: What sets Bidds Mainnet apart in terms of security?
A: Bidds prioritizes robust security measures to ensure user data and transactions' safety.

Q: What future developments can users anticipate from Bidds Mainnet?
A: Expect continuous updates, partnerships, and enhancements to enrich the platform's features.

Q: How does Bidds Mainnet ensure user-friendly interactions?
A: The platform offers intuitive interfaces and tools for a seamless user experience.

Q: What support resources are available for users navigating Bidds Mainnet?
A: Educational materials and assistance are provided to help users effectively utilize the platform.

Q: Why is scalability crucial for the success of Bidds Mainnet?
A: Scalability ensures the platform can handle increasing user demands and maintain efficiency.

Q: In what ways does Bidds Mainnet prioritize interoperability?
A: Interoperability features allow seamless integration with other platforms and blockchain networks.

Q: How can developers contribute to the growth of Bidds Mainnet?
A: Developers play a key role in expanding functionalities, creating applications, and driving innovation on the platform.

Q: What industries can benefit from utilizing Bidds Mainnet?
A: Various sectors like finance, supply chain, and healthcare can leverage the blockchain for improved operations and data security.

Highlights

Time: 00:15:22
Introduction to Bidds Mainnet Exploring the core features and objectives of the Bidds Mainnet Launch.

Time: 00:30:45
Community Engagement Discussing the importance of community feedback and involvement in platform development.

Time: 00:45:18
Security Measures on Bidds Mainnet Highlighting the robust security protocols implemented to safeguard user data.

Time: 01:00:10
Future Roadmap and Updates Outlining the upcoming features and developments planned for the Bidds Mainnet.

Time: 01:15:35
Developer Tools and Resources Showcasing the tools and resources available for developers to contribute to the platform.

Time: 01:30:50
Scalability and Interoperability Explaining how Bidds Mainnet ensures scalability and seamless integration with other networks.

Time: 01:45:12
Industry Applications of Bidds Mainnet Examining how different sectors can leverage the blockchain for transformative purposes.

Key Takeaways

• Bidds Mainnet Launch introduces a smart blockchain for real-world use.
• The platform is designed by developers aiming for accessibility to all.
• Users can expect a secure and efficient blockchain solution from Bidds.
• Community involvement and feedback are central to the Bidds Mainnet development.
• The launch emphasizes the versatility of the blockchain for various applications and industries.
• Future updates and features are in the pipeline to enhance the Bidds Mainnet experience.
• Developers play a crucial role in shaping the capabilities and growth of the platform.
• User-friendly interfaces and tools are prioritized to ensure a seamless experience on Bidds.
• Bidds Mainnet focuses on scalability and interoperability to meet diverse user needs.
• Educational resources and support are available to assist users in navigating the Bidds Mainnet ecosystem.

Behind the Mic

Opening Remarks

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Karibuni. Thank you. Thank you all for joining. This is a very special session for us this evening. And as we wait on our speakers, I'd like to just introduce myself. My name is Lucy Tomeka. I am the online creative content editor, and tonight I'll be your host on this very interesting topic. I see some of our panelists have already joined. Thank you guys for being present. Thank you for your willingness to take this conversation with us. I am joined by my co-host, the managing editor of the Citizen newspaper, Mister Mpoki Thompson. And before I continue, can I just ask if you all hear me loud and clear? For those of you that have the platform. Can you all hear me loud and clear? Thank you. Thank you so much. Porky, the floor is yours.

Introduction by Mpoki

Yes. Greetings, everybody. Thank you for taking the time to join the Citizen X space. As Lucy earlier mentioned, this is a special occasion for us this evening. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Citizen. So it is, it's going to be a session that is going to be very engaging because we all understand the critical role that the citizen has played in shaping narratives here in Tanzania. But today's engagement, today's conversation is going to go beyond the citizen. We are going to discuss the media landscape in Tanzania in its entirety, looking at how the sector has evolved over the years. That's why we have invited some of the key sector players who will share their insights, their experience. And at the end of the day, what we aim to achieve with this conversation is to shape the future of media in Tanzania.

Discussion Format and Objectives

So we are going to tackle different issues that are pertinent to journalism because at the core of the business that the citizen does, journalism is at the center of everything. So today's engagement will include some people within the private sector, some from the government. We hope to have a very exciting concerted engagement. So, caribuni water, right? Just a bit of ground rules for those of us on this stage. We realized that this conversation might get quite heated and quite intense. And for the sake of time, I am going to be timing everybody, including my very, my co-host here. So to start off the conversation, I would like to just let Mpoki lay a bit of groundwork, take us through a bit of the history, and like you say, this is a special session for the citizens anniversary. So just a bit of groundwork as to why we are here, why we felt the need to have this conversation. And we'll dive right into the questions with our first speaker, Mpoki.

Celebrating 20 Years of the Citizen

Yes. Thank you, Lucy. So, as I mentioned, the Citizen is marking 20 years. We were established in the year 2004, and over the years we have played a critical role in shaping conversations here in Tanzania and at the core of our engagement with the public, we have always aimed at ensuring that we have progressive discussions using. Initially, it was pretty much centered around the citizens, the newspaper. But of course, things have evolved over the years. We're not talking about the digital space. So just to give an overview about the Citizen, for those of you who might not be in the know, the Citizen is published by Mwana ng Communications Limited, a content company here in Tanzania that is a subsidiary of Nation Media Group one. Anchi Communications Limited publishes the Citizen, but also Monty newspaper, and one are sporty. Now, all these three products have a digital extension.

Media Coverage and its Evolution

So the Citizen has. We have a website and social media platforms, right from the legacy social media, that is Facebook x, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, you name it, we are there. So we understand that we have been a conduit of bridging the information gap between the private sector and the government. So we have focused, by and large, tackling the business environment in Tanzania, trying to look at what are the critical opportunities available for investors, be it local or international. But also, we have been in the thick of things in matters related to current affairs, politics, social issues, and so much more that we have covered over the years. Now, as we are marking this milestone, we found it pertinent to take a moment to reflect. Now, this reflection is going to go beyond the citizen. It's going to look at media in Tanzania in its entirety, right from the regulatory laws that govern media.

Economic Status and Digital Disruption

We're going to look at the economic status of media, which has been an issue for many years, since time immemorial. But we have seen how it has been more prominent of late with the president, the current administration, addressing, creating a committee to address the economic viability of Mediaev, but also digital disruption. It's an inescapable conversation. It is something that we are living through. It is something that we have seen how it has impacted media in its entirety. Now, all these facets have come with different challenges, and that is why we found it very, very critical to have this conversation with you all. So once again, I would like to welcome you to the citizen X space. Okay, so I'm seeing, as Lucy mentioned, so we have, or we already have some of the panelists on the platform, Maxens Melo, the executive director of JME Forum, Karibusana.

Panel Discussion and Key Guests

Bakari. Bakari Machumu is also on the platform, the former managing director of Mona ng Communications Limited and also our guest of honor this evening, Mister Patrick Ipangula. So Patrick is the assistant director information services, which is Mailezo, but also registrar for newspapers. So he's representing the Ministry of information Communication. And it we cannot have this conversation without having the government involved because they are mandated to govern media through laws and regulations. So thank you. But we also have Doctor Paul Doto from the University of Dar es Lam, my former lecturer, Caribou Sana. Doctor Dotto Doto is going to provide the academic perspective of media because at the end of the day, journalists who operate in today's media space in Tanzania all come from different tertiary institutions. So it is important to have the people who train our journalists also be part of the conversation.

Setting the Tone for Discussion

So all of you, Caribou Nisana, now to kick off this conversation, as Lucy is also going to chime in a bit, media. When we talk about media in Tanzania, different emotions are evoked. There are some who will say that media in Tanzania is progressive. There are others who might beg to differ. But at the end of the day, what we want to highlight today is looking critically at what are some of the issues within Tanzania's media landscape that need to be addressed. But also what are the success stories that we have witnessed over the years. Because it is a fact, and we are cognizant of the efforts that have been made by the government, by players within the private sector to ensure that media in Tanzania is progressive.

Media Landscape and Challenges

So today's conversation is going to be centered around that. And that is why we have someone like Makari Machumu, who recently retired from one Archie Communications Limited and has been within the media space for the last 27 years. He is an experienced journalist, media leader, a media executive. So I think you'll be able to provide us with general insights on how private media operates here in Tanzania. And we've included people like Marx and Smelo. And oh, I also see Tony Alfred. Tony Alfred is the co-founder and managing editor of the Chanzo, a very prominent digital media company here in Tanzania. I think it is one of those new media platforms that are really making an impact within Tanzania's media landscape.

Transition to Digital Media

So it will be interesting as the citizen, were a legacy media. We are making the transition and we have a lot to do yet in order for us to also be as prominent as others that have already established themselves within the digital space. So it is interesting to see or to hear insights from the likes of Tony Alfred, who will be able to talk about how digital media in Tanzania today operates and the impact that we have visited the same within the media landscape. So, Lucy, welcome to kindly introduce the speaker that we're going to have now, the initial conversation with Karim Sana. All right, thanks, Mpoki. The first person we would like to have a conversation with is our former managing director, Mister Bakari Machomo.

Introducing Bakari for Discussion

Mister Makari Machomo. All right, so as I wait for Bakari to accept my invitation to speak, I'm just gonna dive right into the question that we had. So, Bakari, is time in media has been quite a journey. We have seen the impact that you have had at Wenanche and publicly as well. Now, having managed private media, which essentially is a service and a business, would like to first know how did you manage to balance the two? And. Yeah, how did you manage to balance the two? First of all, to build on to my next question, Bakari, kindly accept my invitation to speak and then unmute your mic. All right, while we wait for Bakari, allow me to just proceed and introduce Mister Ernst Sungora, who is the executive director of the Media Council of Tanzania.

Ernst Sungora's Role

Mister Songura, I know our question is preemptive of a lot of the things that we would have wanted to lead with Mister Bakari, but I'm just going to let Mpoki ask your question because I'd like for him to explain as well a bit of what MCT does. And, yeah, I'm working. Yes, so MCT plays a critical role in India's media space. You shape journalists, and I think one of the most prominent initiatives that you have is that the MCT excellence in journalism awards. Now, we know that at the end of the day, how MCT interacts with journalists, how MCT interacts with media and also government. The thin line that exists there is the professionalism, is the conduct of journalists.

Challenges Faced by Journalists

Now, we understand that journalists face the challenge of maintaining professionalism and objectivity due to a number of reasons, such as financial constraints, fear for their safety, poor educational background, which doctor Dotto, you will address that in a little while. So MCT is committed to promoting freedom of media and ensuring the highest professional standards and accountability. Now, what is your view of the status of media in Tanzania and journalists conduct today? Faribu? Mister Sungura. Karibu, I have sent you an invitation to speak. Kindly accept the and then unmute your mic. I hope you have received the invitation. Perfect. Karib sana.

Mister Sungura Speaking

I see he has gone. Okay, Mister. Mister Sangura, kindly accept the invitation and you'll be able to speak. All right, while we wait for Mister Sungura, I hope Bakari has been able to get back online. No, I see he's offline a bit. All right, while we wait for Mister Sungura and Mister Bakari Machumon to get on board, allow us to just proceed to Mister Maxens. Yes, Maxens Melo, welcome to the Citizen X space. The role that Jamie Forum plays within Tanzania's media space and journalism in general has been documented over the years and is commendable.

Maxens Melo's Contributions

And you are at the center of it all. So the digital platform that you have built, which has been in operation for close to two decades, now gained prominence as a platform initially for whistleblowers. And at one point, you personally have been at the loggerheads with the government in terms of revealing some of the people who contribute to your platform. But to take it back a little bit, tell us about Jamie's forum. The role that Jamie Forum plays within the Tanzania's media landscape and how you have seen it evolve over the years. And today, when you look at Jemmy Forum as a digital media platform, do you think it still plays the pivotal role that you had intended it to play when you first established it?

Discussion on Whistleblower Support

KARIM SANA, Asante San I It's very sad that I'm becoming the first to speak to before Mister Kipangula speaks. I think we need to have the guest of honor speak first, then I can chip in if that works for you guys. Mister Kipangula's role tonight is towards the very end because as a representative of the government, we feel that it's best hears from the different stakeholders on the different issues that we want to address tonight. And once he addresses us, he addresses all these issues as a whole. Cool, over to you.

Establishing Jamie Forum's Purpose

That wasn't made clear at the very beginning. So. Well, we have been in the space since it's almost two decades, as you said. And actually the very early days, we aimed at first being the voice of the voiceless, which we still do to date, and being the home of whistleblowers, which is still being done to date. That's why we came up with the whistleblowing tool called Futura Woven. And within the past twelve months, fuchsia War Two has enabled citizens to we sublo staffs anonymously and we have more than 1500 cases that have been collected in the past twelve months.

Youth Engagement and Storytelling

But again, we started this platform also to be the voice of the youth, which we still do to date. That's why we have a solution like stories of change. And in the past four seasons, that stories of change has been running. We have made more than 8000 stories submitted by citizens which are solution based. So Jammy forms is still doing very well. I may say. We get more than 3 million, we reach more than 3 million people on a daily basis. And we have several programs that are still enabling people. Actually, we are doing better than when we started.

Expanding the Scope of Impact

But as I can say, we are not a media platform. We are just a medium for the media to take stories from citizens. We are the voice. We are being the amplifier of voices of citizens. And we have been like that since we started. But we have developed other programs like the information fact-checking portal Jammie check to counter miss and disinformation online and offline. Also, around these times of election, I think it's a critical time to have such solutions. Digital platforms that are made locally to enable local voices be heard locally.

Looking Towards the Future

And in a nutshell, I think we are still doing what we are supposed to do, and actually we are doing it in a better way. Moving forward, we have a plan of pushing for a more responsive government, but working in collaboration with like-minded actors like the Citizen. Thank you. Thank you so much Mister Maxens. Makari, I see you're back online. I hope you are much more settled. Back to you now, we laid the groundwork a bit earlier about your journey in media and my question still stands. How did you manage to balance or find the balance between running a private media as a service as well as a business?

Balancing Media Business and Service

Thank you. Yes, yes, we can hear you. Oh great. Apologies for the technology each. Now. First let me start by congratulating the citizen for reaching 20 years of service come 16 September, which is on Monday, next week. Now the discussion today, as you said, as I heard box saying, it's not about the citizen, rather it's about the sector, the industry, not only in Tanzania but globally. Now, how did we manage to balance between media as a business and service? I think there have been two school of thoughts.

Different Perspectives on Media Function

Some of one of that school of thought is believe that media is a service and for that matter it's not supposed to be involved or engaged with any business whatsoever. Meaning even collaborating with the business community people in the business sector. It seems like compromising journalism. The other school of thought, look, what business. I mean, the media as business first and service second. And I subscribe strongly to the second school of thought. And my reason being I pretty much understand and appreciate and heard this for the past 27 years, that media has the role to inform, entertain and educate.

The Role of Media in Society

And this comes with content creation. I mean, when you inform, when you entertain, when you educate, you have to gather information, process it, verify it, and at the end of the day, make sure that what you send out is relevant to the community, to the society you are sending to. That doesn't come cheap. It calls for resources. Resources in terms of the number one resource being people. I mean, human capital. And then you need to have issues, deal with the technology, to talk about a need to handle processes and what have you, make them more efficient.

Independence and Commercial Viability

So I struggled to make sense with those who argue that media should be service and service only because we don't have Jumba who come and satisfy our process. So over the years, I believe that I think you can operate independently, upholding journalism standard and principles, but doing it in a business way. And that to me is a more good way of ensuring sustainability. So what we used to do, what I used to believe in is we have to be transparent. We have to be very open to our stakeholders. And by stakeholders here, we are talking about public service, private sector, civil society organizations.

Defining Media's Role

All of these need to understand why does the media exist? We exist as a fourth estate to make resources get used, I mean utilize in a more efficient way. So if you come to me, if you come to us, you want us to partner with you have to appreciate that there are do's and don'ts. We have our principles, we have our values. So when it comes to holding you to account, some of the private sector players want us to hold the government to account. Some of the civil society organizations want to order the government to account, but they don't want to be held to account.

Media Accountability

So the job of the media is not just to hold the government account. Everyone, every prayer. So civil society organization, private sector, public sector. So when we are holding you to account as private sector, as civil society organization, you shouldn't be coming up in arms saying, now you are becoming compromised. So one, be elaborate on what the media stands for. Two, transparency allows the stakeholders to understand there are boundaries we cannot cross. There are principles we cannot bend and those ones are the ones which keeps us operating.

Dealing with Challenges

So when we are in trouble with the weather, the government, private sector or civil society organization, ours, my approach has always been explained to them. This one we cannot do. Yes, we are partners, but on this one, on matter of principles, we cannot compromise. And at that point, you leave it to the other part to see whether it is worth continuing or not. But my experience over the years, you actually end up being respected more because everyone will always try to push the boundaries. And the moment they know what to stand for, they respect that. Let me end there.

Establishing a Common Purpose in Organizations

Once you have a common purpose, you establish every department, every player in the organization. What is my contribution to this common purpose? Where can we push the limit? Where can we stay the course? So the do's and don'ts are put forward. So if editorial says no, this one, for instance, we see a lot of advertisement being put out of some seriously products, as editorial custodian of the Toro policy, as executive editor, will put your foot down saying we like the money but this one is a no go area. And the commercial side will understand that. Everyone will understand. You'll be aligned on this one. Yes, we can do it under these guidelines. Guidelines. So when you approach it in such a way as a team, you all aligned to the do's and don'ts, and whoever goes out there, they are not saying, those are the advertising team, those are the commercial team, those are the editorial team. You keep pointing fingers to each other. So, Lucy, the long and short of this is we should start by asking ourselves, as a journalist, as a supporting staff in the media house, what am I contributing to this company to be paid well?

Education and Training of Journalists

All right, thank you, Bakari. And I'm glad you put it that way because that speaks to the background and the training that journalists have going into the industry. So I'm going to invite Doctor Doto from the University of Bar es Salaam to speak a bit on educating journalists. Mpwaki. Yes, Doctor Dotto, again, once again, welcome to the citizen x spaces. Now you are an academician, you are the center of molding, of shaping, of nurturing journalists. Here in Tanzania, there have been positive outcomes, but also challenges remain preprominent within that academic space. I want you to give us the reality on the ground. How does the University of the restaurant, because you're at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, how do you train journalists who will be able to be competent enough to operate within the current media landscape in Tanzania and any part of the world, speak to the reality of our academic process here in Tanzania?

Reflection on Media Education and Industry Experiences

Asante. Thank you so much, Poki and the citizen, for preparing this. But also I would like to congratulate you for the milestone and reaching 20 years. And I'm also happy and proud that I'm also part of this journey because I was once a journalist as the citizen several years ago. It was in 2008 to 2009. So at least I've actually had that experience of working at the citizen and I've seen at least the trends of what has been transferring. Now, coming to your question, maybe before we, before I address or before I speak of what you have asked about the training and how the realities are at the University of Dar es Salaam, and even in other aspects, especially how we cope, how we do our training as compared to other parts of the world or other universities or schools of journalism, maybe before. Before that. Let's also reflect on this broad topic that you have actually we are talking about today. One of the aspects is actually, it's important to understand that looking at the media space, the successes, the challenges, it's important to look at the key components.

Media Training and Professionalism

And these components include one, is actually because the components of the media space include one, is the professionalism itself. How do we the professionalism in our aspect. But also second, it's important to look at the practice, the journalism practices as far as the media space in our country is concerned. But third, is important also to look at the frameworks. What frameworks do exist? Let be legal frameworks. Let be the business frameworks, as Mister Machum was talking about. Let be the service frameworks as far as journalism is concerned. But the other aspect is also looking at the audience factor, the stakeholders factor. What kind of audience do we have when we speak of the media space, especially with the developments that have happened, but also it's important to look at the way the industry is governed, especially looking at the government, by looking at the market itself, that is to say, as we talk about the government with the laws that exist. But also we look at how the market, in terms of the owners, in terms of the facilities, in terms of all the factors that facilitate all this.

Trends in Media Education and Historical Context

So now when we examine all this now, it's important now to look at what you have asked about the way we train our generous, maybe starting, we need to look at the different trends that have happened in the country. One is the time when maybe after independence in the 1960s, coming to the 1970s, when were in one part system, but also we had only one university at the time that we had only the University of Dar es Salaam. Now coming to the media training, you remember, and most of us remember that we did not have the university that would be teaching the, at least the bachelor degrees and all that in terms of journalism. And therefore the training was basically, if I can call it was basically at the lower level, that is to say from the certificate to the diploma in which we had the Tanzania School of Journalism and at the time under the prime minister's office also we had the St. Augustine University of Tanzania, which was also again teaching in terms of in the 2000 or late 1990s.

Challenges and Developments in Journalism Training

That's when now after the liberalization, now that's when we had now the private media coming up. And therefore it was the time also we had now the university, these colleges coming up to actually train our journalists. Now, looking at all these trends, one of the realities, one of the reality that we need to understand is that we have been struggling with the kind of higher education in terms of journalism. That is, to start with the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s coming to 2000, and then it was in the 2000, that's when now we had at least universities teaching journalism at the higher level in terms of bachelor degrees and master degrees and all that. And therefore one of the issues that we need to know is that we have had a kind of journalism training that was actually trying to cope with the world standards, with all this kind of situation that we had. That's one. But second, journalism training needs, like any other field, like any other discipline, needs a lot of research, needs a lot of practices that are actually more of academic, that are more of research.

Realities of Journalism Training Today

And that goes with the standards of the world. Now if we look at our way of training our journalists, we have been also working hard to have our journalists been trained with the world standards. But still the history can actually challenge us because of how I said, like the way we had our training, been at the lower level for many years. And therefore at this time were trying, we are trying to run so that we can actually cope up with the standards of the world. The other reality is actually the question of the practice. I think many of you understand that one of the issues that are currently asked, and many people in the media houses do complain that our trained journalists, when they come out of our colleges, are still not that much competent. Yes, one of the challenges that we see is the facilities, the equipment that need to go in line with the world standard. So that's another reality that we have, although we have been actually struggling to have at least make them do their practicals in every year, for instance, in the three years, if at all, they are doing a bachelor degree.

Progress and Adaptations in Journalism Education

But still the challenge is, again in terms of the number of the students and the others. So I think these are the realities coming to the positives is that we see one of the ways that we have actually seen the universities. I've done a lot of consultancies and I've worked with several colleges in Tanzania. We see that the universities, the colleges including the University of Dal Islam are doing a lot in terms of making sure that our students at least are going in line with the world standard, including doing a lot of revising our curriculum. For instance, at the University of, we have been doing the review of curriculum not only once, maybe in five years, in maybe three years we do that. And this is actually in all the levels. And therefore we are doing a lot so that we can actually see our journalists, our young journalists, our trained journalists go with the word standard.

Current Trends in Media Employment

The other reality or the other positive is in terms of the growing number of our students who are actually going to work in the media houses. In the past, for instance, there are people who would come, there are angeles who come to be trained to our media or our colleges, and then they turn not to be journalists. But currently we see that there is a lot of exposure whereby you find the young journalists who are coming from colleges are actually working in the media houses. So I think these are the realities that we need to consider when we look at the development in terms of the media space, especially when you look at the training of our journalists. All right, thank you. Thank you so much. Doctor, allow me to also invite right now, Miss Rosemary. Miss Rosemary, you are a veteran media advocate.

Missing Skills in Today's Journalism

Keeping in mind having heard what our previous speakers have touched on, briefly, just take us through what you think are the most critical skills that are missing in today's journalism. Miss Rosemary. All right, while I wait for her to settle down and get online, Miss Rosemary is the executive chair of East Africa Business and Media Training Institute, and she's, I think, the best looking at her journey, rather her experience as an advocate of journalists, I think. Carib Sana. Miss Rosemary, I see you're connecting. The stage is yours. All right, while we're waiting for Miss Rosemary, can we just proceed to Mister Tony Alfred? Now, Mister Tony Alfred is a co-founder and the managing editor for the Chanzo.

Digital Challenges in Media Platforms

And the Chanzo has really been giving us a bit of a challenge digitally, which is a very good thing for us out here. It really pushes us. Mister Tony Kariwu. I'm just going to let Mpoki take over. Yes, Tony, welcome again to the Citizen X space. So when Edward speaks of the Chanzo and the role that as a media platform you're playing in Tanzania today, we understand how you've been able to navigate digital storytelling strictly for digital platforms, be it via mobile or any other gadgets. You co-founded the chancellor together with Khalifa said, who's a former journalist for the Citizen, a respected figure within the media landscape.

Investigative Journalism in Tanzania

I want you to share with us your experience as a co-founder of a digital media platform, but also as a journalist. We have seen the narrative that you have covered. Investigative journalism, I believe is at the core of what the Chanza does. Talk to us about the gape that you noticed within Tanzania's media landscape that prompted you to establish the Chanzo. And what has been the reception perception of the Chanzo from the audiences themselves, but also the government? Because as I mentioned, investigative journalism is at the core of what the Chanzo does. So tell us what prompted you to establish the Chanzo initiative, but also the impact that you have had on Tanzania's medium, Karibu.

Building a New Media Culture

Okay, thank you. Poki. I think this is a very great space, but I, before I continue, first I would like to congratulate you. I think 2004, that is a time I was in form one, and it's a very long time, but you've managed to do some outstanding work throughout the years. So for that, I would like to challenge you. One of the things about the media space is that the story is not well told. Even the citizen story itself, you've done some very important work in the nation, but it's not well told, I think, academically. The history of the media, the main text up to now is the stama. It's a very old text, but very comprehensive. But now we need to tell this story in a new light. And I think it will not be appropriate for the citizen to let this moment go without telling the story properly, especially some of the big story that you've done.

Challenges and Triumphs in Journalism

The moments, there's a lot, I think if we reflect, we owe the citizen a lot as a nation. There's a lot that you've managed to cover, but it's also important to the citizen sometime to remember where it came from, so that as it carved the way to the future, then it can remember, but also for young people who are coming up. So that is my challenge to you. I think we need that. We need that story to be told well, and using an example from some of your people, some of the old colleagues, the challenge, the triumph, the sadness, the tears, all of those challenges, I think we need them to be packed. But going to your question, just for the people here, the chancellor, it's a media that started in July 2020.

The Journey of Chanzo Initiative

We've officially been active from September. So I'll say we are now four years, almost four years. We are now four years. And what inspired us to do journalism, it's ought to start the chancel. It's because of the opportunities that we saw in the media industry. The media industry was changing the space. Need an outlet that can combine some of these tools that are coming up, but also to covers some of the, especially if they had news. We were seeing that most media were shifting to entertainment and sport. So we thought, why don't we come up with this outlet that will not only be based on digital, but tell some of the stories creatively and covers.

Progress and Learning in Media Reporting

So we are not where we want to be, but we are satisfied with our progress. And one of the things that we say that we are going to try is we are going to try to have young journalists just to learn together, to build a culture of have journalists who are not experienced that much and build a new culture and learn together. And I will say we have learned a lot. For example, I'll tell you a story on how we started our videos. We didn't know how to write a proper script. So the three of us, it was me, Halifa and Joel. Joel Monkirantile is also the co-founder. So we started to see. So now how are we going to. How are we going to. We had a vision, like how our video will look like, but we didn't know how to apply it.

Development and Challenges in Creating Media Content

So we started to see the best way. We tried the first script, we tried to explain to the videographer. It was very difficult, but then through time we managed to do it. But there were some of ideas that were testing. They seemed impossible. For example, we want to do to be analytical. So when were testing some of these ideas, it was like, you need all these resources, you need all this. But we said, no, we have to do it has to be done. So from the beginning, that was the spirit, that if we don't understand something, we'll search for it until we understand it to the extent that we can. Sometimes it takes us a very long time, which is something that most media doesn't have, even us.

Advocating for Fair Journalism Practices

But because that is how we wanted to build our system, then we started to do that. There were a couple of challenges, perception and perception. From the beginning some of the people were thinking that maybe we are working to say for the opposition parties, but no one suspects to any party. Our whole mission was as it is. And that is what we wanted to present, just the raw form of journalism. So we did that. I think at some point I will not speak for the government, but I think at some point some people understood that we're just doing journalism. And I'll say we have very good relationship, not good relationship, but the relationship that needs to be there.

Collaboration and Engagement in Media

So I think we have managed to get somewhere where we want to be. But our aim, I think in the long run we are thinking of building a new culture around all these tools that are coming up from the ICT's, from the new tech, from AI and everything. So that is what we are pushing and we are seeing ourselves not just as a media, but more than that. I think we'll unveil some of it in the coming years, upcoming month. You will see some of it, but I think I'll stop from there. So to allow others to talk. Thank you.

Progress in Media Freedom

All right, thank you, Tony. We were hoping to have Mister Deodatus Balile, who is the president of the East Africa Editors Society, as well as the chairman of Tanzania's editors forum. And it seems he is a little bit tied up at the moment. And I'm going to ask Mister Bakari Machiomo to kindly step in as he is also the vice chairman of the Tanzania's editors forum. Mister Bakari, is that okay with you? Hi, Lucy. Now, I don't know what I really wanted to talk about. That's all right. We do have a few questions and Poki is going to, I think. Bakari, you have to be the moderator.

Engaging with Government on Media Laws

Yeah. The hotel trying to manage. All right. Yes, Makari, we understand. The Tanzania editors forum has been at the forefront of engaging the government when it comes to reviewing what are considered contagious media laws. There have been a lot of voices that have been raised within the media fraternity internally, but also externally from the international community. Now, as the vice chair of the Tanzania Editors Forum, I want you to talk to us about. Can you please assist them? Probably. Bakari, can you hear us? Yes. Yes, I can hear you. Oh, all right. Okay. Yes.

Communicating with Authorities for Change

So, as the vice chair of the Tanzania Editors Forum, you have been in the thick of things when it comes to engaging with the government in reviewing some of the contentious media laws. Talk to us about the reception that you have gotten or the Tanzania Editors Forum has gotten from the government when it comes to being willing to review some of the contentious Media Services act, the Epocha, the Electronic and Postal Communication act, the Cybercrime act, what is the reception? And how reactive has the government been in terms of reviewing these contentious media laws? Yeah. Thank you.

Advocating for Stronger Media Rights

Yes. Well, I think in the past were used to believing that strong media or effective media or being independent is about going to log ahead with whatever authority that is out there. And that approach might have worked, might have not. And increasingly, what you are seeing, the global trend, is engagement, is dialogue. At the end of the day, you are looking at what do we want to achieve? At the end of the day, do we want to be seen to be these pushing groups or do we want to actually have better environment to operate from? And they have win situation.

Collaborative Approaches in Media Governance

So the trends, and I'm talking about the trends because I have experience with some of the non-state actors who have played in the space of the media in the past 27 years, saved as board member of the media council, of Tanzania for two terms, six years in total. And I saw the change in the approach, embracing dialogue and they will get the results. I've been working very closely and engaging with my friend Aydan and just recently was presenting a topic at one of the business meetings here in and they was talking about the concept of complex communication.

Promoting Change Through Complex Communication

Complex communication, meaning you are communicating with different parts, with different interests, but balancing the different interests to make sure that you have those winstration. And if I speak about the transcendent forum, the same. So we are seeing a pattern. At the end of the day, you want to see change, and if you want to see change, collaboration, engagement is the way to go. As what we have seen in the recent years, I think we are seeing some big progress and coming from the tone, from the top. We all know the way the ministry has been engaging us in the past two or three years and we have seen a number of actions being taken or being laws or whatever.

Moving Forward with Media Freedom

The environment was not palatable being worked on to the extent that we are talking of moving some 40 plus position in the media freedom Index. So those are encouraging trends. And when you see such encouraging trends, I remember last year I attended the East African Editor society where most were a member and the president then was Chachi Rotieno and sitting with his deputy Karinaki from Uganda. They wanted to pay visits to the minister for information in Tanzania, saying they want to encourage ministries or countries which are upholding the professionalism, improving environment for many to encourage them to continue believing that positive change will inspire other governments in the region to also follow the Tanzania.

Assessing Progress in Media Laws

So we are not saying that we are there where we want to be, but we are making progress. And to me, if you are making progress, I believe is Tanzania has fallen. We see that we are asking for a couple of issues to be a media Services act of 2016. Out of 28 were worked on, we had twelve others which were told would be working either through the review of the policy or through the review of regulations. And we keep on hopes high and they want to continue engaging. If we are 20, we have knocked out eight, so we are remaining with twelve.

Vision for a Free Journalistic Society

Our hope is that momentum needs to continue. From twelve. Let's start talking about. We remain with six, from six, let's talk. We remain with two, let's say now we are done with this within a short period of time. But I think it calls for all the stakeholders now coming together and agreeing on a common purpose. What do we want to see? We want to see an environment where journalists operate freely, responsibly, and claim their noble duty for holding those in power to account, holding private sectors, and so set everyone to account so that the literal resources we have were utilized. So we are seeing encouraging trends in the past few years.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

Thank you. Thank you, Bakari. So I think that is the perfect introduction into the next speaker, our guest of honor, Patrick Ipangula, the assistant director for information service, Habari Mailezo and also the registrar for newspapers, as a representative of the government. Patrick, the government is currently addressing virus challenges related to the media sector. We have seen some positive outcome, as Bakari has elaborated in terms of how you engage to address some of the issues that have been raised over the years beyond the regulatory framework. There's also the issue of the economic status for media.

Safety of Journalists

And our hope is that every journalist in Tanzania, in any part of the world, works in an environment where they are assured of their safety. But we still see instances of journalists being mistreated. We have seen instances where journalists have been arrested as recent as this year. Now, as a representative of the government, one of the issues is to ensure safety of citizens. What is your comment about the safety of journalists in the country and you under the Ministry of Information Communications? And it, what is the ministry doing to ensure that moving forward, journalists in Tanzania operate in a free environment where their safety is assured so that we may continue our duty as the fourth estate in Tanzania Caribbean.

Role of Journalists in Safety

Let me start by saying that maybe the safety of journalists start with the journalists themselves. That's number one. But number two, we have been encountered by many cases about harassment or misread, miss, mistreatment of journalists from different parts of this country. But I always say that if you have got any problem from your safety, please just make sure that you report the issue so that we can. We can, we can deal with it. Recently I. We had a problem with the Monanchi somewhere. He was. He was threatened to be arrested by the regional commissioner. Then that issue was reported to us, then we spoke to the regional commissioner and then the issue ended there and he was not arrested. So it's very important to report the issue.

Government Initiatives for Journalist Safety

But moving forward, we have been in collaboration with UNESCO to make a strategy for safety of journalists in this country. And then we have started to prepare an app so that everywhere Jonas is in problem, then he can do something so that the alert will go to the relevant, to the rent person, so that he can be helped to rescue the situation. So we are the government, we have been doing that and then we are going to have that up so that we can help the journalist to be safe in everywhere they are working. But also the safety of journalists includes their health and their economic status. If the journalists have no. Maybe have no good salary, maybe they're working in very bad condition. That's also the safety. It's not the harassment itself, but it's the other issues may be included in the safety of journalists.

Overall Journalist Safety

And then if we deal with all those issues, then I think the safety units will be. Will be more. More. Well, and then it's very important for that. And then the safety itself, we should be collaborating with the police force so that we can join together, so that we can protect this university as well. But because of the work they are doing, if you read the Media Services act, there is section seven. It's very protect, it's very protective for the journalists. So if I argue the journalists to read that law, they're about their risk insurance and. And the right to work is there. So it's somehow reflecting the media Services act. But there is more to be done so that the safety of journalists is complete. And then the journalists are working with the free without fear of intimidation or other threats.

Challenges Facing Journalists

Thank you Mister Kipangola. We have been joined once again by Mister Sungura who is the executive director of the media Council of Tanzania, as well as Mister Deodatus Barile, the president of the East African Editors Forum Society. Pardon me. As well as the chairman of the Tanzania Editors Forum. Now before we continue to our next speaker, I just want to acknowledge the interest that the audience has in this topic. Thank you for the request to speak. And we will have a moment where we'll open the floor to the audience. So if you have any questions, kindly jot them down. Save them for when we finally open the floor for questions. I'm going to invite Mister Sungura to talk to us a bit about some of the challenges that are in place for journalists.

MCT's Commitment

Mister Sungura, you MCT rather. MCT is committed to promoting freedom of the media and also ensures the highest professional standards that accountability, responsibility for journalism. Now journalists face the challenge of maintaining professionalism and objectivity due to a number of reasons, some of which are like financial constraints, fear for their safety, which has been spoken about a bit by the previous speakers, poor educational background and so forth. Now Mister Songwri, what is your view of the status of media in Tanzania and specifically journalistic conduct?

Ethics in Journalism

Thank you. Thank you so much. Yes, we can hear you. Okay, sorry for the technological challenges as well. And this is one of the issues that I think you need to invest even in some of the veteran journalists like myself. And I think in terms of preparations, this also needs to be an alert before even we kick start. So regarding your questions, I think generally, and it is my views that you talk about the standards and ethical considerations, I think we are in a declining stage. We are still missing the multiple sourcing stories. We are more into the single source syndrome. We sound to be more biased with certain site, instead of bringing in the story different perspectives, so that we can see like the people centered the story, where people are also considered in the story, more audience driven.

Quality of Journalism

So it's rather on the government sources and the high ranking sources that are being featured in the stories. These are my views with regard to the standards. I can just surprise you that Media Council of Tanzania was trying to check on some of the stories which attracted the reactions by the audience, such as DP World and Ngorongolo with the Maasai or even with the Hanang stories. So we build an interest even to monitor how the media covered such stories. And of course, we know that we have standards which are normally used even to. To award journalists in excellence in journalism. Unfortunately, our findings have indicated that these stories from this kind of categories never met the standards.

Freedom of Media

And this give us an abuse. When you meet with just normal readers, normal audience, they will tell you about where are the standards and where are the quality of the media in the country. So that's one aspect. But with. Regarding freedom of the media is very critical. It's very important, it's very pertinent, because the ritual stories that we see is the result of freedom of the media, is a result of the safety and security of the journalists. Once they are guaranteed, they can always come up with good stories. So the moment you miss investigative stories, I think you start thinking about what is missing.

Press Freedom Rankings

But I've also heard the government official talking about safety and security. Start by a journalist, him or herself. That's very right. But we also even need to push it more by trying to understand when we talk about that we are now improving in terms of press of freedom rankings. The question is, how are we moving? Are we still in the, say, yellow block, just coming from the ready block? Are we in the green block? And what are the issues that are still need to be addressed so that you can move, because you can be in an improving stage from the 143 to 93, I think, or 97, but you're still within the same block.

Investigative Journalism Challenges

So we need to go even deeper to analyze and come up with these issues that are hindering Jonah is to pursue stories, especially investigative stories. I understand you have just mentioned about one of the challenges regarding financial constraints, which of course some of the other discussed and clear they have talked about. And I can even recall. I think Ima chum also try to differentiate whether media is a service or a business. But the financial constraint that is facing the media, this in my views, it is an investment issue. We understand that there is a mushroom of media outlets, different categories, many radios, many tv stations, of course newspapers.

Market Demand in Media

Maybe they are declining in terms of the numbers, but we can still see more of registered tvs and radios. But what is the market demand? What is the market size? Are we expanding in terms of the trends, in terms of business, in terms of profitability? Is there an attractive business environment with the media? In my views, we can still see declining with the. For example, the government is one of the main source of advertisements for most of the media, but they are reducing their budget. I can recall more than 20 years ago we used to have only that was a global figure.

Legacy Media Investment

3% of all the money that we have in the world were invested in the media. But I think that is declining. And if even you think about Tanzania, if you ask where are the money going now? They are not going into the media, they are going somewhere else. But again, if you talk about the tech companies, they are also taking a lot of money out of what we call legacy media. And this is also a question that we need to see. How can we push these tech companies to consider investing in the legacy media or in the mainstream media so that they can even compensate what is constraining the legacy media.

Financial Reporting in Media

Otherwise, you don't see money coming in the legacy media. You see money going into the tech companies, going into more of the social media and is draining the mainstream media. So this is the consequence that the media is facing. And at the end of it all, journalists are not supported financially to cover in depth stories. Journalists cannot stay somewhere for even a month to investigate issues, live around the issues of other issues, which might constraint a journalist to pursue an investigative story. But financial aspects alone play a great deal in terms of pursuing investigative stories.

Investor Preparedness

So it's one of the challenges that we need to address. But I mentioned the entry point is the investors. If someone decides to invest in media, I think you need to be well prepared. I understand Kipangula is here and has registered a number of media outlets and they normally submit a business plan. But the question is, how do we evaluate their business plan? Because they must have a profitability aspect or like covering the cost that include paying salaries of journalists, including how to cover, I mean, to finance quality content.

Challenges with Business Plans

So if they can present business plan that normally they are just on papers and they cannot realize it. This is a challenge with the investors that are investing in the media. I think maybe I can stop here for now, unless you have any follow up question on that. Thank you. Thank you very much for your insights. Deodatus Balile, the president of the East Africa Editors Council, has joined us. He's also the chairman of the Tanzania Editors Forum.

Insights from Tanzania Editors Forum

Now, Balile, the initial question that we had lined up for you was answered by your deputy, Bakari Machumo, in his capacity under the TEF umbrella. However, you as the chairperson of the Tanzania Editors Forum, we understand that in the past Teff used to navigate within the expansive media landscape that was dominated by legacy media, that is, broadcast and print. However, moving forward, we are seeing a lot mushrooming of digital media in Tanzania and we have talked about the prominent role that digital media is now playing. I want you to talk to us to give us a bit of insights out of foresight as TEF. What do you think will be the ethical guidelines that will govern digital journalism in Tanzania and how umbrellas such as Tanzania Editors Forum will be acting as a guiding spot for young journalists who want to enter into the media space?

Shifting to Digital Media

But the space is shifting towards the digital space. So tell us about the ethical guidelines that are pertinent in today's digital journalism in Tanzania. Karibu first of all, I should apologize for joining a little bit late. Not a little bit. Actually. It is. I don't want it to be political, it is so late, but I was attending a religious event at Msimbazi center where I have just left. So it took me time to negotiate my way from Simbas back home. Secondly, I apologize if I repeat what others have said because I did not get the opportunity to listen to them.

Transformation in Media

So I might end up navigating, swimming on the same line where they have done what I will do. And the third, you said something like the legacy media used to do to be it is not the question of being used, it is still active. The only mistake we are making, we think that we acquit legacy media or traditional media, as it is put or called, with the artificial intelligence. Some people are so much obsessed or afraid of artificial intelligence thinking that it is going to replace them. Artificial intelligence or the new media.

Technological Changes in Journalism

It is a vehicle that will be used to curl the information from professional journalists to the public. What has changed in terms of time and technology? In terms of time, it's a question of technology that for those who remember, with the Gutenberg technology in the 18 hundreds we used to be sending the Moscows or telegram, and these telegrams, you could hardly send 610 words. Later transformed, it became into, it improved into a 42 line Bible, which is very popular in Germany and across the world.

Evolution of Printing Processes

And the printing changed or transformed from a 42 line Bible through the technology called computer to film, and the film to then to pasting, and then from pasting to computer to plate, and then to film, and then it to plate. Then it transformed from computer to plate, then to print. And now it has changed, it changed again from computer to plate to print to computer to engraving, 3d technology. Now it has bypassed all these or surpassed them. It is computer to the general public.

Changing Dynamics in Information Dissemination

We are printing through the mobile phones, and these mobile phones technically are printers, but they print audio visual information. So that's where we are a kind of. You touched something like ethical issues, if you could repeat, because whilst I was negotiating my way to join and to start the mic, I did not properly get the last sentence. By the time when I was joining, I heard you mentioned something like ethical issues in relation to the social media.

Addressing Ethical Journalism

So with that short background, if you could remind me, or you could talk to me a little bit about the exact question which you intended me to talk to. Yes. So the question wants to unearth issues of ethical journalism. So with the proliferation of digital journalism, there is a risk that each and everyone is now a citizen journalist. So it creates the fear that ethics and journalism are now not in tandem. So how can you address the issue of ethical journalism within the media space today?

Changing Nature of Journalism

Good, now I get you. First of all, I would like to appreciate the fact that we cannot remain the same like we used it to be. The short history I have navigated indicates that the things are changing. Things are changing across the world. And the only thing which separates social media with legacy media or traditional media, it's the time factor that with social media, you push something. By now, as we are talking, it is reaching the whole world.

Processing Information in Traditional Media

But with newspapers, you need to have a sub editor, the editor reporter, who should process the information. You go to the designing and layout, you go to the printing, passing through the process I have mentioned shortly, but the rest remains the same. We should not compromise the quality of journalism. And currently there is a terminology which is emerging that the world is experiencing news desert on the social media.

Quality Concerns in Journalism

We find, like every Tom and Dick can become a journalist. And they think it's something very easy to be done, which can be done by everyone, whoever knows how to read and write. No, this is a profession, and as you are putting it, there is a risky of feeding the general public garbage. And once we feed the garbage, the general public garbage, information, they will process garbage and the output will be garbage as well.

Consequences of Poor Journalism

They will make an informed decision, and by so doing we will be jeopardizing the national position, the world position. What can we do? First of all, for us who are editors and those who have knowledge in terms of journalistic knowledge. We have to go back to the drawing board. We have to sit down, train this young generation. There is no way we can do away with them.

Training the Next Generation of Journalists

I used to be trying to fight the social media by disqualifying them, by discrediting them, saying they are not really journalists, but they are there. If we ignore this fundamental fact, by continuing with denialism, we will end up distorting or dismantling journalism in totality. The only thing we can do and what we are planning. I hope some of the listeners in this conversation are in a position to support.

Supporting Citizen Journalists

We have to start training the social media guys, these called citizen journalists. Of course, we have to encourage them to go to school, we have to encourage them to pass through the mentorship programs. But we have to strive much as we can to swim for the ship, to make sure that we are training these citizen journalists. We might not one day get the opportunity to bring them under one roof, train them, award them certificates.

Public Awareness on Journalism Ethics

That is next to impossible. But what we can do, we can design a general public key education information strategy. So to put it where we can keep pushing the information. What are the right norms to observe when you are pushing the information to the general public? Remember, we used it to be hard to be getting photos from accident scenes where people we are pushing everything offers out the blame the blind, out whatever damaged bodies.

Improving Media Practices

But we started a program and we collaborated with the TCLA. That program, I remember it was called Futakabisa. Delete whenever you want, you see something which is. Which has bad test. Make sure that you delete it. Actually it is. It has OsT has been observed and the general public has heeded it. Nowadays we hear, we encounter accidents, but we are not seeing horrifying photos being pushed to the.

Collaboration in the Media Sector

To the. Being pushed online. So I think we have to design a curriculum as the first intervention. And I think the director of information service is represented in here. Hello? Hello? Yes, we can hear you. I thought I was lost the director of information. No, no. Is represented in here. We have to design a general or a public key, a public program where we will use available means, be it the same social media, mainstream media, to make sure that we train these citizen journalists to observe media codes of conduct.

Establishing Safety Protocols

But two, the professional journalists have to vindicate that they are really professionals. We have to go online to follow them. We have to converge to follow them, or to follow them online and publish well done information. A properly prepared, professional pieces of journalism or article which will entice not just the general public, but also the readers and those who are belonging to the social media to follow.

Call for Professionalism

To follow the suite or to follow the path. Otherwise, if we stay, mom. If we keep, we stand mourning, saying, okay, things are going bad and we are doing nothing about it. No one else will come to rescue. Our nation is in our hands. We have to face it. Professional journalists. We have to start vindicating that we can do it and pushing the right information, quality information which will entice the social media guys to follow the suit.

Open Forum for Questions

May I take a full stop there? Yes, yes. Thank you so much. Before we do round up, I want. To open the floor to the audience. We are receiving a couple of requests from the audience. I see at Mamaparo Karibu. The floor is yours. Please introduce yourself, who you are, what you do, and then if you have a question who you're directing the question to, please proceed.

Audience Participation

All right. I've also brought up Victor. Victor, the floor is yours. Victor Keba. Yes, yes. Good evening. Yeah. Asante son. Thank you very much for. This space. It is very important that you start discussing our media space here in Tanzania, because there's a lot of information that are coming in.

The Importance of Discussion

There's a lot of research and information that we are receiving from those who conducting simple surveying research. We still have problems. And if we are not conducting this type of discussions, probably we will end up. Our journalism career is falling on our hands. I would like to say, to contribute on what Kipangula has said on issue of safety of journalists.

Safety Concerns in Journalism

You know, the quality of journalism, as Barile have said, the quality of journalism is challenged. And one of the things that is challenging quality of journalism today or this recent past years is the safety concern of journalists. Because we understand, we have seen cases that have been reported, we have seen initiative that media institutions here in Tanzania that have been working on making sure that we promote safety, security of journalists.

Recent Incidents with Journalists

But still, these efforts are not enough. Imagine 2023, we have recorded inside 18 incidences of journalists involved in safety issues. In 2024, already we have ten incidences that we have already recorded. These concern only journalists. Leave aside, apart from whatever that is happening in the media houses that we don't know, maybe Media Council of Tanzania will give us that data. But again, these are small information that are alerting us that the media space is not safe.

The Need for Collaboration

Because I understand, I will try to say thank you for the media fraternity institution that have contributed so much to make sure that the safety of journalists is on top of the game. But again, I think the effort are not enough. We also need more collaboration to join Efoot on making sure that our journalists are safe. Because now you can see the journalists are afraid to report some of the cases, some of the issues.

Perception of Journalism

And to be fair enough, I think these institutions that are threatening journalists today, they think journalists are threatening their life. No, journalists are following issues. Journalists are reporting issues that are concerned to the public so that they can make right decisions, so that they can make decision out of right information that we are given. So I would like to pose a challenge to a media, to media institution in Tanzania, media houses that please.

Mindset Change in Media

Our willingness to protect journalists should be in our mind. You must have these, we must have a mindset change of ourselves, that we need to protect our journalists, but also we need to establish the safety and security policies in your media houses that at least a journalist, when he's in trouble, he or she knows that my media house will also support me on this. Most of the cases that we found here in the periphery of Tanzania, you see the journalist is in trouble.

Support for Journalists

But these media houses are not even bother to make sure that journalists are taking care. These cases are being handled enough. I know there's an initiative that has been brought together by UNESCO, international media support, whatever the issue that has been put effort on that. But again, the efforts are not enough because the quality of journalism is still challenged by the safety of journalism.

The Welfare of Journalists

And the safety of journalism is even going beyond their physical and degree to safe. We also have. We also have. We call this the welfare of journalists. If that welfare journalist is not a concern into our media houses, like what Machoumu has said before, that what are you doing to make sure your media houses perform better in selling, make sure that your media house is getting more funds or income?

Addressing Challenges to Journalism

If we are not doing that means we are giving loopholes for these perpetrators to still threaten our journalists because they don't have where to go, because, you know, they will be coming to go to, they will be going to these stakeholders and requesting money for them. Now the quality of journalism is dropped because also that, but also psychosocial. Imagine these journalists that have been threatened, been taken to the police for the 24 hours, two days they're in the police.

Psychosocial Support for Journalists

Whatever the effort that we've been making sure that journalists getting legal support, these journalists, when they are coming out on these situations, they are not the same. We need to provide them with a psychosocial support to make sure that they are still on the game. Imagine we have journalists that are coming from the training institute where my brother doctor Dotto is coming from. What are we expecting this journalist to be treated in the media fraternity?

Training on Journalist Safety

We have to give them a special training on safety to produce a special curriculum for the safety of. Training for the safety of journalists even before they come to be a fully journalist and operate in the media fraternity here in Tanzania. So those are my two senses.

Protection of Journalists

And I call for the unit with our effort, all the effort to make sure that the journalists are well protected. And that's when they will be working effectively again. We are approaching election. These things will come at our doorsteps. Our journalists will keep threatened because there is a tension coming in election. We know that's a high time where our journalists are being threatened, intimidated, whatever the reason that is. But we must make sure we provide a safe environment for our journalists to operators.

Stakeholder Discussion

Thank you so much, Victor. Your points are very crucial to this discussion. And I believe every stakeholder involved in the conversation today takes something away. And we're all going to work and ensure that we strive to keep our journalists better. Now, I've brought up Neville Manor as well as Miss Nancy, who have requested to speak. So I'm going to start with Nancy. Kindly introduce yourself, what it is you do and if it is a question.

Introduction of Nancy

Hello everyone. Yes, we can hear you. Okay. My name is Nancy, I work with UNESCO and very closely with so many colleagues on many of these issues. Just beginning from the discussion that we've had, one we're seeing as the chair. Nancy, you are breaking up. Can we hear? Is it just us? Yes, we can hear you. Okay, thank you. I said my name is Nancy and I work with UNESCO with many colleagues. Also, many of the issues that are being discussed today, I just have three points.

Observations on Journalism Trends

One on the issue of the number. Of newspapers going down, but so many. Other media outlets coming up. We see from this trend that it's. Not journalism that we're losing, it's just the mode of communication or the channels that are changing. I feel, as Mister Balile again said. It'S important to now start focusing on. Building the capacities of the new sort of media. Not to forget the old, but the new media. Addressing issues of media and information literacy. Fact checking, you know, leveraging on digital platforms, even on monetization of digital platforms.

Challenges in Journalism

To ensure that media remains viable on. Issues of safety of journalists, we need to also to look beyond, beyond. What it is that we always discuss. There's issues of mental health, there's journalists. Going out there covering stories without equipment, without resources. It's not an easy job. We have high expectations of people who. Have the minimal resources to do their work. We need to start looking on issues such as those. I think that's what I have for today. Thank you very much.

Contribution of Neville Manor

Thank you, Nancy. We are very close to rounding up our session. I'm going to open the floor to Neville Manor. Neville, kindly just tell us who you are, what you do, and your contribution as well. Okay, thank you. My name is Nevi Mena and I'm a journalist and a member of executive committee of transient forum. But I also work with the media brains as editor. Chief editor for pharma magazine. Mine is on artificial intelligence.

Questions on Media Policy

As I was listening to Mister Tupangula trying to point on encourage that the media house should not run away from applying attitude. And it's used to properly. Properly and not the other way around. But my, one or my question to mister is that we don't have yet, we don't have any policy guiding or facilitating the application of AI live alone in the media houses, but in our country.

Seeking Guidelines for AI Usage

But so I was wondering, what would be the guideline for the media house when they use, or to use the. To apply the artificial intelligence? While our policy framework doesn't allow or doesn't guide any, how are the media. House going to apply? So ladies, maybe we could listen to him to see if the government at all have any. Have tried to make any effort to have that policy in place so that when he starts, we don't get lost.

Discussion on Media Guidelines

All right, thank you Mister Neville. Question is over to you Mister Kipangola. Okay. Hello? Yes, yes, we can hear you, sir. Yeah. Thank you Mister Maynard, for the good question. We are in the process of reviewing your media police and in the draft you have put issues of artificial intelligence and how the media will be guided by artificial intelligence, and then how the laws and regulation will be reflected on that.

Media Policy and AI

So it's coming in the media policy review. Thank you. I'm not. Thank you so much. We have one last opportunity for Mister Maxens Melo. I believe he has some final comments that he'd like to make. And after Mister Maxson speaks, I'm going to just open the floor to all our speakers. Just a minute each final comments before we do our roundup and we close the session. Mister Maxens, you have a minute?

Insights from Financial Times

Thanks, Lucy. First, allow me to speak this in Swahili to make more clarity. ZD Kuto Anam Nayako VBT regulate easy digital platforms Kwakwangira Kwamba citizen journalists to wake Namna Zaidi to Nakanuni to Nashariasakatika Digitali Wajejdev to a mentors natural trainers to any mentorship AI specific technology emerging technologies Nanamna bora yakutakata maudui kwajira Mozzah namna Yahu Incorporated technology Mpangla and Chi.

Key Strategies for Media Viability

Asante Matsons Mister Bakari, your final statement. We're just going to go around the room and get just final comments from our speakers. 1 minute, Mister Machiomo. Yeah, thank you. Let me insist on the need to do business first so that you can finance journalism and offer it as a service. And I want to finish by just citing an article I was leading this week by a guy from Financial Times Strategies.

Financial Models for Journalism

His name is George Aldeman. What is the article is writing about is looking at how do you create media business that focuses on reducing cost, cutting costs, not corners, optimizing key processes in running the media organization. And they've done this, Financial Times have done this, and they've come out with three key areas where they focus on and they've been able to make profit from newspapers.

Adapting to Media Trends

We are seeing newspapers dying, but they've been able to do that. So the key focus areas they've worked on, and they are now sharing that experience with other companies across the world, is, number one, reducing production costs number two, enhancing supply chain and the distribution in efficiency and number three, implementing quality control and waste management. Through doing that, financial times were able to cut their cost by more than 50% in between 2008 to 2018, and that have seen them being able to make profit from the print business.

Challenges in Media Production

So we are saying printing is dying, but I think if we focus on producing what matters, then that cuts our cost. For instance, if you ask yourself today in Tanzania, of all the content we produce, what percentage drive engagement? Normally, if you go by the Pareto principle, studies shown that at least in the west, 80% of our content drive just 20% of the engagement. So it means we are producing so much content which is irrelevant and in so doing we are using so much cost.

Focus on Relevant Content

So the idea here is focus on relevant content. And for you to focus on relevant content you have to know your customer, KYC. If you know your customers, save them with that prime content they want and forget about producing just for the sake of producing. I'm saying it as if it is very easy to do. If it was easy, everyone else would be doing it. But I want to challenge the audience on this x space to go look for this financial FT Financial Times strategy.

Learning from Successful Models

The case study which have seen them become profitable and it's the model which have helped them now to create a new unit, advisory unit to help media organizations across the world on what they did, how it helped them to be profitable, be sustainable, and we can learn from that. So earlier on someone I think doctor Dotto said we do not do much research. Of course we don't have resources to do research. Research is expensive, but we do not need to be doing every research because we have organization which are capable and they have resources.

Innovation in Research and Reporting

They've done this. Ours is to copy but not paste customizing to our environment and we can learn a thing or two and adjust. Asante sang now happy birthday, happy 20 years the citizen which is very close to my heart SANTOSA thank you. Thank you so much. Mister lectures. All right, up next, Mister Tony, your final statement.

The Human Side of Journalism

Yeah, thank you. I think of just finishing, bye. Saying journalism is about the people. If it's to make profit in business, the credibility is very crucial. You cannot say you're running a media business if you're losing your credibility. But again, for environment I think one of the things if you are working in the media sector, one of the things that you know is that. And else it's also one of something that is in your back of your mind as you are investing is that you're not really sure if you're really going concern and I'm not saying because of say your business structure or model, it's only that you are sometimes thinking is this the day I'm going to get shut down?

Vulnerabilities in Media Business

So I don't think that is the best way to run business, any business. And I think that if you ask any media owner that is the it's something that it's in the back of your mind and they are not running an illegal business. It's not drug, it's business that is reputable, it's business that people need. But it's somehow very vulnerable to all these, I will say predatory legislation, predatory regulation and predatory practices.

Stability in Media Industry

So I think we just need to have a country where you can run a business and be sure that the next day you'll be there. And maybe if you fail, it's because you are just a bad business person or you have a bad business model, and not because somebody in a high horse hates your business or hate what you say. But the last thing is about I think I'm with Max. The world has changed.

Navigating New Media Landscape

It's not right to say that. To start to deal with people because they are posting on their social media, that has changed. So it's not the people. We don't need to force the people to see us as journalists. The work has to speak. If you're in a situation that the world cannot speak, you're competing with people who are posting on their pages, then it's your problem, not them.

Authority of Journalism

The journalist work has to speak, it has to have the authority. If you are saying we cannot be differentiated between a journalist and somebody who is posting on his own page, it's not the problem of those people, it's our problem as journalists. We have to have that authority. And that is not for the government to help us. It's not for the authority to set regulation that hinder creativity.

Investing in Journalistic Integrity

No, it's for us to really invest in our work as journalists. And I think we're. In the. Thanks, Tony. Doctor Paul, daughter, the floor is yours. Yes, thank you so much. Just a question, just a minute and a half at most. Okay, thank you so much. And surely I appreciate that. This has been a very instrumental conversation and we have learned a lot, but also hearing from different dimensions as been very useful.

Collaboration in Media Development

And let me finish by just saying as what I started, by talking about the players who are involved in all these aspects. Then I go back to again saying that when you look at our, the media space and all the development that we wish to have, I think it's important to emphasize on the combined efforts. We need to work together, we need to collaborate so that we can actually see our media space actually having success.

Addressing Key Media Issues

Like when we speak of, for instance, the issues of technology, when we speak of the issue of safety, when we speak of the frameworks that we have, we needed to work together so that they can actually be useful and be relevant to our environment. And that's why I also said that when we look at the media houses working, we need also to see them looking at what the universities are doing.

Government and Media Relations

The same applies to the government. When the government is waiting for the media to work, the media also should see and talk to the government. And therefore it's all about ourselves. That's to say that everything is in our hands. If at all we want the media to fall, it is us who will make it fall. If at all we want the media to actually succeed, then it is our responsibility to do that.

Closing Thoughts

Asante san. Thank you, doctor. Mister Sungura, the floor is yours. Your final take on the session. Mister Sungura Karibu. All right. While we wait for Mister Sangura, allow me to proceed to Mister Deodatis Balile, your final statement. I have listened to my colleagues who have contributed. But allow me to say one thing which I fancy the citizen.

Quality Content in Journalism

You have your slogan, which goes by its content that counts. So one, we need to produce quality content. But beyond that, the media fraternity. Beyond that, the media fraternity. We need to change the narrative. We have cried so much. We have projected this profession as a hopeless profession. It's like you keep a dog and you keep telling the thieves that it is toothless.

Reputation of the Profession

Don't expect it to be guarded. Our reputation is going down, so much down because of our conversation, because of our words. We keep telling people, or you know this profession. We are not selling this profession. We are a lot of narratives. We are talking about the. About journalism in this country and across the world.

Positivity in Journalism

But the good thing is, if we maintain that citizens slogan of quality content, we can be sure of reaching somewhere at a point in time. I think it's Tony. Tony said that it will never ever reach a time where we'll be having no information as a service, where journalism will be rendered useless. I agree with him.

Changing the Narrative

I think the time has come where we should change the narrative and start speaking positively about our profession. We should blend our profession if on our own. We keep telling the general public that it is a hopeless profession, indeed, it will become a hopeless profession. Three or third point, which I will conclude with.

Exploring New Revenue Sources

We should not expect wonders. We have been so much dependent on traditional sources of revenues. For newspapers we depend on cover flies and the adverts. For radio and tv, we have no cover price. They have adverts. At least the newspapers have the liability source of income, which is selling the returns. Where if you sell a copy of a newspaper, you sell it at 1000, but you sell it as a return.

Challenges in Revenue Generation

You sell 25 copies as one kilo for just a thousand, so you lose 24,000. Now we have to get out of the shell and look for non traditional sources of revenue. I happened to visit the Los Angeles Times newspaper in us last year. They have the automobile factory and for us we are saying you will cause conflict of interest.

Innovations in Revenue Streams

Look at CNN, at Reuters, they are selling data. Look at CNN, they are in the real estate industry. So if we continue business as usual, without thinking of unrelated or lateral diversification, at the end of the day, we extinguish journalism, this country. But my humble request is let's think of non traditional sources of revenue. And the journalists should be not be sent this way of fear.

Transcending Fear in Journalism

Because everyone is saying, oh, journalism is dangerous. So the apprentices, these young guys and girls and boys who are coming out of the universities, if we keep and sustain this narrative that oh, you know, journalism is a hopeless profession, it is a dangerous profession. Actually, they step back a little bit and without being intimidated, they will be watching their steps and by so doing, self censorship ensues.

Promoting Journalistic Confidence

Currently we need to push territory, journalists that this is a noble service profession. You have not to fear, there is no need to fear. You have to make sure that you work diligently, ethically, but also the media owners. Let us start with the little we have. I'm not crediting my own newspaper, Jamuri, but as I'm talking, each and every journalist has been paid the last month in salary of today.

Addressing Media Employment Issues

Mister, I think your network is a bit shaky. We're struggling to hear you. Is it? Yes, yes, we're struggling to hear you. But also. I'm concluding, I'm saying that less the media managers make sure that the little that we are earning it is shared with the journalists who are producing the content, who are going to the field.

Valuing Journalistic Contributions

Unlike I know some of the media houses, mostly private media houses, where the proprietors, when the money comes in, they buy posh cars and forget correspondence, forget journalists. They have no insurance, they have no. Let's boost their confidence by sharing the little we have with them and that little will help us to earn more.

Appreciation for Contributions

Thank you so much. Thank you Mister Balile. We would like to finish this up with Mister Patrick Ipangola. Your final, your final thoughts on the. Before we get to Mister Patrick is Mister Sungura. You speak. Yes. You have 1 minute, sir.

The Ethics of Journalism

Okay, thank you. Media Council of Tanzania deal with ethics issues and standards and excellence, just like excellence and ethics are important on all other sectors, not necessarily media alone. I think we are all nurtured from the childhood to consider ethics from our childhood until whatever age we have.

Responsibility in Journalism

So I would just conclude by saying now in the media landscape, we have the evolving digital media landscape. So it needs really to take responsibility from us. If we call ourselves veteran journalists. We have to take responsibility of learning first and also nurture the digital journalists and citizen journalists by mentoring in terms of the digital literacy, nurturing whoever are really using their time to do citizen journalism so that they can understand the issue of the ethical issues that they need to be considered.

Maintaining Credibility

And by doing that there will be maintaining credibility, trust and integrity. So that will be more important involving digital journalism. That's what I can just conclude. Thank you. Thank you Mister Sungura. And a big thank you to all our speakers, Mister Maxens, Mister Machumo, Mister Tony, Mister Doctor, rather Mister Balile and Mister Sungura, as well as our audience that came up and gave their opinions.

Summary of the X Space

Now, as we're rounding up this particular session, I just want to invite our guest of honor, Mister Patrick, to address in a minute or two everything that has been said and give us a bit of a way forward. And after that I am going to pass the mic to my co host, Mpoki. Mister. Lucy. Maybe I should say that.

Networking and Collaboration

Mohimuya Majaliande Marque Bishua Sharia Margabish Sector Habari Laziat Jambala Kwanza Nina Shaori Kunali reportia Kamati Ochumi Ambayo Mushmo Azari Emir Sector Habari Nanamna Sector Habari now report to Kisoma Kuna, Sababu Zandani Nasabu Zanja Changi and Bonya sector Habai Konimum report to Kai pattern at Kai PTFE Chambua report now Jambola appearing me or to engine sector Bari, semi Edith.

Acknowledgements and Closing

The. Citizen birthday Niwashukuru Naposuri Nam Konya sector Habari Nalabatuna Ninipia to Naimani, Missouri Nanini Katika Kuleza Natnai Manipia Katika Kutimiza Napuzingatiya. Madiri. Habari Naviravir Innovative and the profession Asante Nisan. Yes. Shukran sana Patrick and thank you to everyone who joined today's x space.

Engaging Conversations on Media Future

It has been a very interesting and engaging conversation, so today's X space provided insights into Tanzania's media landscape. I'm just going to do a quick recap as we finalize the last minutes of the session. So we explored key topics such as media laws and regulations, the economic challenges facing the industry, professionalism, and also the effects of digital disruption.

Sustainable Media Ecosystem

Now, some of the key takeaways focused on the need to create a sustainable media ecosystem. Now this is to ensure that there is strength in both financial stability but also the professional standards. We have Doctor Dotto's insights into how the universities are training the future journalists, but also contributors highlighted the need or the impact of digital disruption and the role of artificial intelligence, the importance of allowing citizens to operate with minimal regulatory restrictions, though some might argue without any restrictions at all.

Witnessing Digital Changes

But we've also seen firsthand how some of the most disruptive digital platforms are already making waves in the industry. The chancellor Jamie Forum has been in existence for close to two decades and we've seen the impact. Our guest of honor, Patrick Ipangula shared the government's ongoing efforts to improve media welfare and provided updates on policy reviews.

Fostering Supportive Media Environments

All these were aimed at fostering a more supportive environment. It is important to note that today's X space was part of the citizens 20th anniversary celebration. We aimed to mark the occasion by bringing together thought leaders from the industry and government for a meaningful conversation that.

Shaping the Future of Media

We. Okay, there's a bit of a disruption. Okay. Yes. So the conversation that will shape Tanzania's media future as we continue to empower the nation. So the citizen is part of Mananji Communications Limited content company in Tanzania, a subsidiary of Nation Media Group.

Continuing the Narrative

We will continue to shape narratives in Tanzania. The official anniversary is going to be celebrated on the 16 September, which is next week on Monday. So thank you for joining us and have yourself a great evening. Thank you so much. Good night everybody. Thank you.

Conclusion

Goodbye.