News

By Dotto Kuhenga, Communication and Information Office,

The Minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Hon. Nape Nnauye (MP) has urged the University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SJMC) to keep on taking a lead in engaging media stakeholders on responsible journalism in the country.

Hon. Nape Nnauye said this in his opening address at the SJMC and media stakeholders’ momentous conference, as one of the jubilation activities to celebrate the 60 years anniversary of the University of Dar es Salaam, which was held on 29 June 2022 at the SJMC grounds, in Dar es Salaam.

“The theme and objectives of this timely conference are very crucial and relevant given this School’s role to produce media professionals who are expected to perform their journalistic and communication duties with excellence. I urge you to use this conference to reflect on this leading role of yours”, said Hon. Nnauye.

In this conference, whose theme was ’60 years of UDSM: SJMC synergy with the media industry in Tanzania’, Hon. Nape commended the School for its outstanding and historical work of ‘producing competent communication personnel who are working superbly in both the public and private sectors’.   

“The University of Dar es Salaam, and this School in particular, is a very longstanding institution whose academic work has been exemplary for years. It is thus imperative to discuss the SJMC synergy with the industry in terms of knowledge provision, use of the latest technology and how our graduates keep pace with the current global challenges”, insisted Hon. Nnauye.

The University of Dar es Salaam Vice Chancellor, Professor William Anangisye said the conference was a very important initiative  in bringing together media stakeholders to discuss about their “noble journalism profession” and ways to improve it through collective efforts, for the public interest.

“Through this forum you can propose ways for working together to improve this profession such as undertaking collaborative research–which is among the key priorities at the University of Dar es Salaam, and other initiatives like conducting regular assessments of the profession”, said Prof. Anangisye.

The Dean of SJMC, Dr. Mona Mwakalinga  said that, since its establishment in 1975 as the Tanzania School of Journalism (TSJ) (the only public media education institution in the country by then) until now as SJMC, the School has proudly produced over 3,000 alumni–from certificates, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, who are “scattered in both public and private institutions offering outstanding and commendable services”.

“SJMC stands as a model media education institution in the provision of theoretical and practical knowledge. It is among the very few journalism colleges in Africa with media houses for students’ practical sessions; it owns a media house, Mlimani Media, which consists of Mlimani TV,  Radio Mlimani and The Hill Observer newspaper”, said Dr. Mwakalinga.

This conference was attended by more than 400 participants, including several alumni, former deans, principals and tutors of the School as well as particular Tanzania media personalities and senior journalists who were panelists in related topics.

The notable panelists included Dr. Ayub Rioba (TBC); Tido Mhando (Azam Media); Joyce Shebe (Cloud Media/TAMWA); Innocent Mungy (Ministy of Information); Nasra Nassor (TAMWA Zanzibar); Bakari Machumu (Mwananchi Communications); and the Chief Government Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa.