The Tanzania Meteorological Authority (Tanzania Meteorological Authority), in collaboration with the Environmental Management and Development Organisation (EMEDO), has launched Journalism Awards aimed at strengthening public awareness on climate change, early warning systems, and water safety across Tanzania.
The initiative, announced during a press briefing at Mbezi Garden in Dar es Salaam, seeks to recognise and reward journalists who play a key role in delivering timely and accurate information that helps communities prepare for and respond to weather-related risks and disasters.
Speaking at the event, EMEDO Advocacy Officer Mary Francis Mahemba said journalists remain a vital link between scientific weather information and the public.
She noted that accurate reporting helps communities understand early warnings, take preventive action, and reduce losses caused by floods, storms, and water-related accidents.
She added that the awards are designed to encourage more responsible and impactful reporting that supports public safety and environmental protection.
According to her, media professionals have a direct role in saving lives by ensuring that weather and climate information reaches people in a clear and understandable way.
The awards will focus on key areas including coverage of extreme weather events and their impact on communities, dissemination of early warning information, safety in water transport, prevention of drowning incidents, and promotion of community resilience against climate change effects.
Journalists from all media platforms across Tanzania including radio, television, newspapers, online media, and digital platforms are eligible to participate.
Participants are required to submit their published or broadcast stories produced between August 1, 2025 and August 30, 2026. Submissions will be sent to media@meteo.go.tz and mediahaliyahewa@gmail.com.
Officials from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority emphasized that the initiative is part of ongoing efforts to ensure weather and climate information is not only available but also widely used in decision-making across key sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, transport, and disaster management.
They noted that many Tanzanians, especially those working in water-based activities such as fishing and marine transport, depend heavily on early warnings and weather forecasts to safeguard their lives and livelihoods.
Strengthening communication through the media is therefore seen as a critical step in reducing risks and improving safety.
The partnership between TMA and EMEDO also reflects broader national efforts to strengthen cooperation between government institutions, civil society organisations, and the media in addressing climate change and environmental challenges.
Organisers said the Journalism Awards will motivate journalists to produce more detailed, accurate, and solutions-oriented reporting that helps citizens better understand climate risks and how to respond to them.
Ultimately, the initiative aims to ensure that every Tanzanian has access to reliable weather and climate information that is easy to understand and can be used to make safe and informed decisions in daily life.
