The Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) has called on media employers across the country to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Media Services Act, Cap. 229, particularly in the recruitment and contracting of media professionals, to avoid legal disputes that could arise from non-compliance.
The call was issued by JAB Acting Director General, Advocate Patrick Kipangula, during the Board’s official inspection visit to media houses in Dodoma and Iringa regions conducted from January 20 to 21, 2026.
The visit aimed to assess compliance with the law among personnel engaged in journalistic activities, including editors, reporters, broadcasters, photographers, producers and freelance journalists.
Speaking after the exercise, Advocate Kipangula said the Board observed that although some media outlets employ journalists who meet the qualifications stipulated by law, a number of them have not been registered in the TAI-HABARI system to obtain official accreditation and press identification cards.
He warned that failure to complete the accreditation process places both employers and journalists at risk of breaching the law, stressing that media institutions must ensure all practitioners are duly accredited before assigning them duties or entering into employment contracts.
“The accreditation process is not optional. It is a legal requirement that safeguards the profession, protects employers and journalists, and upholds professionalism in the media sector,” he said.
Advocate Kipangula also highlighted the issue of low allowances and salaries paid to journalists in some media houses, describing it as a persistent challenge that calls for broader dialogue and coordinated efforts among media owners, stakeholders and the government to improve working conditions in the sector.
However, he commended media owners who were found to be fully compliant with the law, responsive to journalists’ concerns and committed to investing in safe, supportive and enabling working environments.
According to him, such initiatives contribute significantly to protecting the integrity of the journalism profession, enhancing professional standards and strengthening public confidence in the media.