DAR ES SALAAM: JOURNALISTS Accreditation Board (JAB) Chairman, Tido Mhando, has called on Tanzanian journalists to rethink their role in shaping society, urging a shift toward more impactful and thought-provoking content to restore the profession’s dignity and influence.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam, the chairman said the board will continue regulating accreditation based on education and legal requirements while also stressing that continuous professional training remains essential for improving the quality of journalism.
“Many media outlets, including newspapers, radio and television stations, have increasingly reduced content that challenges public thinking, and this calls for reflection on whether this reflects the image journalists want to leave in society,” he said.
Mr Mhando emphasized that the media plays a powerful role in shaping public perception, adding that it must prioritize content that promotes understanding, national development and the protection of public interest.
He also reiterated that journalists seeking accreditation must hold at least a diploma-level qualification, while encouraging ongoing training to strengthen professionalism and industry standards.
Furthermore, he urged the media sector to continuously assess the type of content being prioritized, warning that journalism must remain a key driver of informed public discourse and national development.