Journalists have been urged to strengthen fact-checking and uphold professional ethics as the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) increases the risk of misinformation, defamation and violations of people's privacy and dignity.
The Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) acting Director General, Patrick Kipangula, said press freedom should not be used as a licence to publish unverified information or content that infringes on the rights of others.
Speaking on Monday, November 9, 2026, during the opening of a three-day training programme for Azam Media journalists in Dar es Salaam, Mr Kipangula said freedom of the press carried responsibilities that journalists must observe to maintain public trust.
He said the media played a critical role in helping citizens access reliable information, make informed decisions and hold public officials accountable, but this responsibility had to be exercised within the law and professional ethical standards.
"Press freedom is not the ability to say everything, but the wisdom to seek the truth, the courage to speak it and the commitment to take responsibility for what is said. The law protects freedom, ethics give it direction and professionalism gives it value," he said.
Mr Kipangula said advances in technology, particularly AI, had made it increasingly important for journalists to authenticate information and verify photographs, audio recordings and videos before publishing them.
He cautioned that the pressure to break news quickly should not come at the expense of accuracy, warning that publishing false or misleading information could damage reputations and erode public confidence in media institutions.
"We must ensure that the information we publish does not violate people's dignity, defame them or mislead the public. The growing use of AI requires us to be even more careful in verifying every piece of information we receive before sharing it," he said.
He also urged journalists to understand and comply with the Media Services Act and other laws governing their work, including the Personal Data Protection Act.
The emphasis on verification comes as AI tools make it easier to generate or manipulate images, voices and videos, creating additional challenges for newsrooms seeking to distinguish authentic material from fabricated content.
Presenting a session on media ethics, Dr Egbert Mkoko said journalists should ensure their professional decisions reflected ethical standards recognised by society while also complying with national laws.
He said some actions might be considered acceptable within certain social settings but could still have legal implications, making it necessary for journ