Journalists Urged to Embrace Investigative Reporting to Promote Accountability and Policy Reforms

Journalists from the Northern and Central Environmental Media Networks are encouraged to focus on investigative reporting that drives policy reforms and promotes accountability.

During a training session for environmental journalists organized by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) in partnership with the Media Institute for Indigenous and Community Affairs (MAIPAC), the Director of the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), Kenneth Simbaya, and the Director of MAIPAC, Mussa Juma, emphasized that the era of event-based reporting has passed.

Simbaya emphasized the significance of modern journalism, advocating for journalists to focus on writing stories that drive policy and legal reforms rather than merely reporting daily events.

“LHRC and MAIPAC have organized this training to equip you with the tools to investigate environmental issues that spark change, while adhering to ethical standards,” Simbaya said.

On his part, Juma encouraged journalists to prioritize investigative reporting that fosters accountability within communities, but also reminded them to respect ethical standards, cultural values, and traditions in their work.

“Let us write stories that highlight gaps in policies, regulations, and laws, but also those that increase public participation and enable better decision-making,” Juma stated.

In his presentation on reporting for Indigenous communities, Juma urged journalists to respect the cultural norms and traditions of these communities, advising them not to write stories without obtaining consent from individuals or groups involved.

"A concerning trend has emerged, where journalists visit indigenous communities, such as the Hadzabe, take photos, and write stories without obtaining the community’s consent or understanding," he explained.

Juma emphasized the significance of respecting cultural norms when reporting on Indigenous communities, avoiding derogatory language, and ensuring that the community members are allowed to share their own narratives.

He added that the training aimed to equip journalists with the necessary skills to investigate the impact of climate change on marginalized communities and to address the emerging land conflicts in these areas.

On security and safety issues for environmental journalists, lawyer Paul Kisabo advised reporters to conduct thorough security assessments before embarking on any assignments and take necessary precautions.

Kisabo also outlined various laws and regulations related to media and the environment that journalists should be familiar with and apply in their work.

This training, attended by 35 journalists from regions such as Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Singida, Dodoma, and Manyara, was funded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In addition, further training sessions are scheduled to take place in the Lake Zone, Eastern and Coastal regions, and Zanzibar.