Media Council of Tanzania, MCT
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Sweden has been part of building up the Media Council of Tanzania from the outset, which fills an important democratic function in the country. The council is owned by the media itself and is a voluntary body the public can turn to in order to file complaints against media. MCT mediates, works with media ethics and advocacy work. This initiative supports a pro...
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- B01 - Core support to NGOs, other private bodies, PPPs and research institutes
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More about the contribution
Sweden has been part of building up the Media Council of Tanzania from the outset, which fills an important democratic function in the country. The council is owned by the media itself and is a voluntary body the public can turn to in order to file complaints against media. MCT mediates, works with media ethics and advocacy work. This initiative supports a project aimed primarily at strengthening freedom of the press, freedom of expression and media ethics. Part of the project focuses on efforts to improve current and future media legislation in the mainland and Zanzibar. This work is being done in close cooperation with a number of national, regional and international partner organizations and networks, as well as in dialogue with the government on the mainland and Zanzibar. The second part of the project focuses on increased media professionalism and ethics of media and journalists. MCT wants to achieve this by continuing and increasing the promotion of self-regulation of media and the organization's mediation work, which will be made more widely known to the public throughout Tanzania.
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Result
On Outcome one; Advocacy for repeal and review of anti-media laws. According to the 2019 report, Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) excelled its work on advocacy to push for changes in legal and policy reforms related to media in Tanzania. MCT continued to coordinate and support a coalition called CoRI (Coalition of Right to Information). The platform has 12 members just to mention some, TAMWA, Sikika, Twaweza, LHRC, Tanzania Editors Forum (TEF), THRDC, Media Owners association (MOAT) and Policy Forum. Most of MCT led advocacy issues related with targeting national laws, start with input and discussions in this platform. For example, the case against the Media Service Act at East African Court of Justice emanated from this group of experts. In this case, the rulling was in favour of MCT and the court nullified most of the opreesive sections of the existing media service act in Tanzania MCT has also worked in cooperation with the revolutionary government of Zanzibar to track the process and provide input for the new media law reforms for Zanzibar. This level of collaboration was facilitated by MCT having a presence in Zanzibar phyisically. MCT through Zanzibar office was able to monitor, visit and attend meetings any time requested by the government. In 2019 MCT has conducted meetings with house of representative to enhance their knowledge on the draft bill. MCT had also gone further by designating a special committee in Zanzibar to ensure close follow up and engagement. in 2019, MCT has supported Hali Halisi Publishers and newspapers like Tanzania Daima and Raia Mwema in their cases. The two newspaper were banned by government and as a result MCT intervened by presenting a court petition to challenge the government decision. MCT 2019 report indicate that MCT supported 4 individual journalists and facilitated for a public petition for a missing journalist Azory Gwanda in collaboration with CPJ where 1500 signatures were collected. CPJ and MCT continuously demanded the government to declare the whereabouts of the journalist Azory Gwanda especially after Kabudis (the former Minister of Foreign Affairs) controversial statement in BBC interview in 2019. To strengthen its advocacy ability, MCT has developed collaborations with other organizations like Worlds Association of Press Council (WAPC), Article 19 and International Center for Nonprofit Law (ICNL) and Human Development Investment Fund (HDIF). It is also noted that, in 2019 MCT was visited by Media Council of Kenya. Outcome two; conducting Arbitration. MCT in 2019 report has continued to play its core role of arbitration and mediation while promoting media self-regulation. Media self regulation is an approach that mentors journalists and media houses to regulate themselves and not waiting for external intervention. The more journalists are trained on media ethics, media law and regulations, the better the fairness and professionalism in the nedia industry. It is reported that, 12 complaints were logged in 2019 compared to 6 in 2018 and all of them were executed by MCT amicably. MCT report shows that 5 of the media houses have positively responded to self-regulation initiative. ZBC, government owned entity is one of the five media houses who have developed own editorial policies.
Overall Outcome for MCT Strategic Plan The environment for media/press freedom and freedom of expression is enhanced and defended and the media are accountable while exercising their rights enabling them to provide the public with diverse information and views in a professional manner. Outcomes for the areas for Swedish support - Outcome 1 Advocacy for repeal and review of anti-media laws - Concerted efforts by media and political stakeholders to make current media and other laws and regulations more media-friendly and accountable to press freedom - Outcome 3 Arbitration MCT Arbitration of complaints is improved and widely accepted by public and the media
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