The Journalists and Media Workers Union of Tanzania (JOWUTA) has officially started participating in the Coalition on the Right to Information (CoRI), in a move expected to strengthen the fight for access to information and improve the welfare of media professionals in the country.
JOWUTA was admitted into CoRI during the coalition’s third meeting held on December 5 last year, following its application based on its mandate to defend and promote the rights, interests, and professional freedom of journalists and media workers in Tanzania.
The union attended its first CoRI meeting this week, represented by its National Chairperson, Mussa Juma, who thanked members of the coalition for their trust and acceptance.
Speaking during the session, Juma stressed that the right to information cannot be separated from the well-being of journalists, noting that media freedom must go hand in hand with fair working conditions.
“A strong media sector depends not only on access to information, but also on the protection and empowerment of the journalists who deliver that information to the public,” he said.
He added that JOWUTA, which has more than 400 members, is ready to work with the coalition’s 22 member organizations to advance transparency, accountability, and professionalism in the media industry.
Juma said the union also expects to benefit from the experience and expertise of other CoRI members as it strengthens its role in advocating for journalists’ rights.
CoRI Chairperson Ernest Sungura welcomed JOWUTA and other new members, including TAMCODE, Divine Elite Attorneys, RUJAT, TMC, and the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF), calling for unity in pushing forward reforms in the media sector.
“Together, we can build a stronger and more progressive information landscape that serves the public interest,” he said.
During the meeting, CoRI also endorsed key proposals forming part of its 2026 action plan, setting the stage for coordinated efforts to promote access to information and media development in the year ahead.
