A newsstand in Tanzania. Newspapers that publish content that does not
please the Tanzania government may find themselves struggling for
advertisement revenues, thanks to the newly launched Media Services
Regulations, 2017. PHOTO | FILE
By The EastAfrican Correspondent
In Summary
- Newspapers that publish content that does not please the Tanzania government may find themselves struggling for advertisement revenues, thanks to the newly launched Media Services Regulations, 2017.
- Stakeholders have warned that the powers to control who gets advertisements may be misused to control content in newspapers.
Newspapers that publish content that does not please the
Tanzania government may find themselves struggling for advertisement
revenues, thanks to the newly launched Media Services Regulations, 2017.
The regulation, effective from February 3, has made it mandatory
for all government ministries, departments, institutions, projects and
local government authorities in which the state has more than 50 per
cent stake to channel their adverts through the Director of Information
Services, “who shall have sole and exclusive authority to decide which
medium to use in publishing the adverts.”
The regulation follows the enactment of the Media Services Act
last year amid criticism by media stakeholders that it threatens freedom
of the press and freedom of expression.
A coalition of Tanzanian media and human-rights organisations
recently filed a petition at the East African Court of Justice alleging
that the law contravenes provisions for safeguarding democracy among
member states enshrined in the Treaty that established the East African
Community.
Stakeholders have warned that the powers to control who gets advertisements may be misused to control content in newspapers.
“This regulation hinders freedom of the press because when
handling stories about the government, editors will be inclined to avoid
publishing the truth if it is likely to annoy leaders. They may prefer
to publish what pleases the government in order to be considered for
advertisements,” said Alphonce Msimbe, a lawyer in Dar es Salaam.
Originally, advertisements from government institutions were
channelled through information officers who determined suitable mediums
based on technical factors such as circulation figures.
According to the regulation, the Information Services Department
can now charge up to 10 per cent of the total cost of the adverts to
pay for its administrative services.
The Media Services Regulations has also placed a shareholding
limit on foreign companies seeking to run a media business in Tanzania,
where they are required to submit to the Director of Information
Services a list of shareholders with a minimum of 51 per cent local
ownership, when applying for a licence.
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