The international media rights organization Article 19 Eastern Africa has announced a strategic partnership with the Journalists Workers Union of Tanzania (JOWUTA) aimed at empowering journalists and strengthening media freedom in Tanzania.
The partnership seeks to advance advocacy for progressive media laws, defend journalists’ rights, and tackle gender-based violence against women working in the media industry.
The announcement came during a high-level East African Regional Conference in Nairobi that brought together media organizations, civil society representatives, state actors, academics, researchers, and private sector stakeholders.
The conference focused on four key areas: coalition-building and stakeholder engagement, capacity strengthening, advocacy strategies and campaigns, and raising public awareness for media freedom.
Speaking at the event, Patrick Mutahi, Deputy Director of Article 19 Eastern Africa, highlighted the organization’s commitment to addressing persistent challenges facing journalists in the region, including restrictive laws, economic hardships, and safety threats.
“We are delighted to engage in this important dialogue on freedom of expression and media freedom in East Africa. This partnership will enable us to explore sustainable ways of supporting journalists to work in safer, freer, and more enabling environments,” Mutahi said.
He explained that the conference forms part of a 24-month regional initiative aimed at promoting media freedom and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
“The initiative builds on successful national media sector experiences and thematic regional engagements, with the goal of establishing a regional media multi-stakeholder consortium,” he added.
Mussa Juma, National Chairperson of JOWUTA, hailed the partnership as a milestone for Tanzanian journalists, noting that it will help enhance professional capacity, improve working conditions, and promote economic empowerment.
“JOWUTA represents over 400 members across all regions of Tanzania. This collaboration will not only improve the welfare of journalists but also foster constructive dialogue with media employers for better labor relations,” Juma said.
He added that the initiative will create opportunities for Tanzanian journalists to share knowledge and best practices with colleagues from neighboring countries, building stronger professional solidarity across East Africa.
Also addressing the conference, William Oloo-Janak, Director of Programs and Training at the Kenya Correspondents Association (KCA), emphasized the need for regional unity in tackling common media challenges.
“Media organizations in East Africa face similar hurdles — from legal restrictions to financial instability. It is crucial that we work together, exchange expertise, and engage with regional bodies such as the East African Community (EAC) to push for better media laws and safer working conditions,” he said.
The regional conference brought together a wide range of actors, including the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), the Rwanda Journalists Association, the Kenya Correspondents Association, the Kenya Journalists Union, the Kenya Grassroots Media Network, Ugandan journalists, as well as representatives from civil society, academia, and the private sector.
The gathering reaffirmed the importance of collaboration and solidarity among media professionals in promoting press freedom, protecting journalists’ rights, and advancing gender equality in newsrooms across the region.