OPENING entrances for the Tanzania Journalism Excellence Awards (EJAT) for 2024 has been postponed while the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) works on a new format for the competition.

Ernest Sungura, the MCT executive secretary, told journalists in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the council will conduct a review to identify more journalists, including those not submitting any work for consideration.

Typically opening during the final months of the year, the window has been delayed to allow for a review to find better methods of selecting award winners, moving away from individual presentation of published news or other items.

MCT has been holding journalism excellence events since 2009, awarding stories published or aired in outlets like print, radio, television and online media.

“The research for the awards will be carried out nationwide from January to March 2025, aligned with the digital transformation plan, enabling MCT to work more closely with the public,” he stated.

The focus of the review is the structure of awards, the process of selecting winners and how to engage the public in producing stories that address social challenges.

“After using this award system for 15 years, the council will make adjustments to ensure that every journalist who completes a story can be reached,” he stated.

One new method to identify winners would involve tracking and evaluating strong stories from journalists without their knowledge, in contrast to the situation where journalists submit their own work for consideration, he said.

“There are many journalists producing excellent work who have never submitted their stories for awards. Our goal is to identify every journalist with praiseworthy work,” he stated.

He also pointed at some overlooked groups, who contribute to producing award-winning stories, who need to be recognised in future awards, hinting that awards will also include categories for photographers, news readers and sports broadcasters.

After the review is completed mid next year, the awards would appraise the best stories covering 2024 and 2025, with overall winners in various categories being eligible for international awards, he added.