The Journalists and Media Workers Union of Tanzania has called on Parliament to prioritise reforms aimed at improving journalists’ working conditions, as structural weaknesses in the media sector came into focus during the presentation of the 2026/27 budget for the Ministry of Information Culture Arts and Sports in Dodoma.
JOWUTA participated in the parliamentary session at the invitation of the minister, Paul Makonda, who tabled the ministry’s budget and emphasised the need to strengthen the economic sustainability of media institutions.
Makonda told lawmakers that weak financial capacity among media houses continues to undermine professionalism and adherence to ethical standards, arguing that a stable economic foundation is critical for the delivery of credible and public-interest journalism.
He said the ministry, through its accreditation board, is expanding the registration of qualified journalists, with more than 3,000 already accredited.
He also acknowledged longstanding concerns from veteran journalists who fall outside formal qualification frameworks, noting that a new approach is being developed to recognise experience, competence and professional contribution.
However, JOWUTA chairman Mussa Juma said the budget debate must go beyond institutional reforms and confront the realities facing journalists in newsrooms.
He said more than 80 percent of journalists operate without formal employment contracts, a situation that exposes them to job insecurity and limits their ability to uphold professional standards.
Juma further noted that while the government has issued directives to raise the minimum wage in the private sector, compliance within the media industry remains low, reflecting deeper structural challenges.
He expressed optimism that Parliament and the ministry will use the budget process to craft policy and regulatory responses that improve welfare, strengthen accountability and ultimately create a more enabling environment for journalism in Tanzania.
