THE government expects the new board of the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) to work closely with other media stakeholders to help address challenges posed by the modern technology in the media profession.

Mobhare Matinyi, the government spokesman, issued this appeal in Dar es Salaam on Thursday at a ceremony to launch the new board, saying farewell to outgoing executive secretary Kajubi Mukajanga and welcoming his successor, Ernest Sungura.

Mukajanga, who served in that position for 15 years, said he hopes the council, founded by journalists, will maintain its institutional role, grow and guide the profession, underlining that achievements registered are embedded in ethical and professional conduct of media management.

He laid accent on advocating for a conducive working environment for journalists, cooperating with the government to grow press freedom, collaboration with zonal, international and local stakeholders like the Coalition on the Right to Information (CORI), East Africa Press Councils (EAPC) and others to take up the new challenges.

There are also new opportunities arising from developments in digital technology like artificial intelligence, he said, backing up the government spokesman that media practitioners need to ensure that news and information produced is credible and ethical.

Matinyi promised full cooperation with the new board in like manner as the outgoing board, noting that cooperative engagement enabled improvements of the Media Services Act number 18 of February 2017.

 He asked the board to work closely with all key partners in the media, various organizations, stakeholders like Coalition on the Right to Information (CORI) and the Editors Forum ‘to ensure this profession excels and effectively contributes to the development of our nation.” 

He recalled that a committee was formed to examine economic challenges facing media houses, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan tasking the sector minister, Nape Nnauye to consult with experts in the media and outside to find solutions on the problem.

The government is willing to look for ways to help alleviate the challenges that impede the progress of the sector, he said, while Mukajanga urged the new board to push for further improvements, citing the annual Excellence in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT) as they a vital brand for the council.

Edda Sanga, outgoing board member and veteran journalist, said major efforts were directed at ensuring journalists adhere to ethical conduct and professionalism as “journalism is a noble profession.”

“Journalists are demanded to be extra careful to ensure we share accurate and true information and at the same time we should understand that regardless of what we do and ongoing developments, we should always remember we are still Tanzanians,” she said.

She praised the outgoing executive secretary for his transparency and willingness to work and travel with the board members, noting that the changes he brought were evident.

He worked hard to show the government that the media is not an enemy but what the media needed was collaboration to make things better, she added.