A three year project to support and empower journalists in Tanzania has been launched in Dar es Salaam. The project tittled “Empowering Journalists for an Informed Society,” will run from 2025 to 2027 and funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), This project will be implemented by International Media Support (IMS), the Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC), and JamiiAfrica.

At the launch, journalists and media experts discussed how journalism is more important than ever, especially in the digital age. They shared ideas about how to protect the profession and improve the quality of news in the country.

One of the speakers, Imani Luvanga, said media institutions in Tanzania should do more to protect journalists. She also said that training should focus on journalists who are passionate about learning, and that trainers should be people who actively work in journalism. She said this, will help build trust and makes the training more practical and real.

Speaking at the event, UTPC Exeucutive Director Kenneth Simbaya said the project aims to give a voice to people in the community. He added that some stories may not be welcomed by everyone, but that’s part of good journalism. He explained that through this project, they will work closely with the government to help leaders understand why free and independent journalism is important for the country.

JamiiAfrica Director Maxence Melo said some people may think the project is only about elections, but that’s not true. “We’re happy that the project starts before the elections and will continue during and after,” he said.

He added that journalists will be trained on how to use technology to spot fake news and understand where it comes from. He also said they have built strong partnerships, including with UTPC and the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), to make sure the project is successful.

IMS Executive Director Jasper Højberg also spoke during the launch. He said it is important to work together on such projects, especially since getting funding is often a challenge. He said IMS supports partnerships and wants to create a better environment for journalists to do their work. He also encouraged media outlets to find creative ways to grow and become more sustainable as businesses.

Mr. Højberg noted that while Tanzania is improving in media development, there are still problems that need attention and this project will help to solve them.

EU Deputy Ambassador Isabelle Mignucci praised the project and said it will help build a better future for the media in Tanzania. “We are working together to make sure every voice is heard and that people get correct and reliable information,” she said. She added that the EU sees a strong media sector as key to democracy and government accountability. She also noted that the project, will focus on helping young people, women, and people in rural areas who often don’t get the attention they deserve.

Also speaking at the event was Mr. Holger Tausch, Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy. He thanked UTPC for the work they’ve done to protect journalists. He mentioned UTPC’s efforts in tracking attacks on journalists and helping them. He also appreciates safety dialogues with the police, which have helped build better relationships.

Mr. Tausch said Switzerland’s support for this project shows their long standing commitment to press freedom and journalist safety. He also referred to UTPC’s 2024 report, which recorded 20 cases of journalist violations. He praised the efforts to support those affected and emphasized the importance of continuing these safety talks across the country.

Even though Tanzania has made progresns in global press freedom rankings, Mr. Tausch reminded everyone that there is still work to do. The new project is expected to help tackle these challenges and build a stronger and safer media environment in Tanzania.