TANZANIA MEDIA

The media landscape of Tanzania it comprises the following types of media;

Radio stations such as Radio Tanzania Dar-es-Tanzania (RTD), Radio Free Africa (R.F.A),Radio One ,Radio Clouds ,Radio Five ,Radio Sauti Ya Injili ,Radio Tumaini. News papers such as Daily News , Rai ,Nipashe ,Uhuru ,Mfanyaakazi,Mzalendo ,Mtanzania, Msemakweli, Spoti.

The television station that we have is small and there is no public broadcasting network , (ITV) independent Television, which is under the supervision of the larger group of companies known as IPP. Now the government is in the process to build national Television station. This will operate to the all Tanzanias’ regions.

ITV rebroadcasts many programmes from DSTV(South African Satellite TV company ). Programmes such as 'Egoli' a popular South Africa soap opera, Popular music programmes, mostly international music, game shows, sporting and political events. Much of the stations output is imported, there is little content originated in Tanzania, due primarily to lack of money. Also radio stations can be classified into two types; Private radio stations; Radio One, Radio Free Africa, Radio Sauti Ya Injili, Radio Clouds fm, Radio Five, Radio Uhuru, Radio Tumaini. And also the national radio station, we have only one national radio station, known as Radio Tanzania Dares Salaam(R.T.D). Radio One is owned by a group of companies known as IPP. Its aim is to promote business matters by advertising and to provide news to the people. This news comprises political news, both domestic and international. It also provides entertainment programmes such as music of different types. Radio free Africa (R.F.A) plays mostly popular music. It’s aim is to make money by advertising, it is not completely a commercial radio station, it also makes announcements about political matters, social matters, and world news as well. Radio Clouds station is owned privately by music publishers and funded by advertising. It is a general light entertainment and popular music based station, Radio Clouds also covers various different types of commercial promotions that are available in Tanzania. Radio Sauti Ya Injili station is owned by a group of Christian churches. Its aim is to promote Christian ministry within the country. All of these programmes are in the National language Swahili.

News papers are also divided into two types. The Government news paper, the Daily News paper written in English. Its aim is to promote and to explain government works. Private news papers like Nipashe, Mtanzania, Mfanyakazi, Uhuru, Mzalendo, Spoti ,Msemakweli, Rai ,all are written in the Swahili language except the Guardian which is only written in English. The Mtanzania , Mzalendo ,Uhuru news papers are owned by the ruling political party .It's aim is to promote party policy ,political ,social and economic. Nipashe and the Guardian newspaper are owned by the group of companies known as (IPP). Their aim is to promote the businesses of the company by making different advertisement. They are predominantly liberal in outlook. Mfanyakazi newspaper is owned by the Tanzania Workers Organization. Its aim is to promote workers rights in Tanzania. Mfanyakazi is predominantly left wing in outlook. Rai Nguvu Ya Hoja news paper is owned by its own editors board, General Ulimwengu acts as the board chairman. It deals with political matters, social matters and economic matters. This newspaper has a strongly pro democratic voice. Prior to 1992, Tanzania was a socialist single party state where all the industry and media were centrally controlled. So in that case we Tanzanian citizens believe that as the time continues we will reach the highest standard in media in our country.

I can promote Tv Programme to the development of people in Tanzania, in my country there is a programme known as ‘Your Technology’ shown by Independent Television. This programme is so good because it focuses on technological aspects within and out of the country. It is so good because it doesn't have limitations, as we know this is commercial broadcasting it examines different levels of technology without having any type of ideology. This programme promotes the value of technology to the people and helps accelerate the rapid increase of small industries in Tanzania. Also it brings motivation to the people to engage in competition internationally. I think that this programme really helps the modernization of technology in Tanzania. It is true that Tanzanian television features a great deal of imported programming, from America and also from South Africa. As Tanzania is a developing country and has no national public broadcasting service, the commercial station, ITV, rebroadcasts a great deal of foreign programming due to it's cheapness. This is a problem common to all African nations with the exception of South Africa , which has a relatively strong broadcast television industry.

Tanzania as a developing country, tries to establish mass media freedom in order to build a strong democracy . Through these media people exploit their talent capacities through learning, listening and addressing other people. So in Tanzania these media are playing a great role in helping the people overcome poverty and developing democracy.