Tanzania: Media urged to reach at remote areas

Dar es Salaam, 10 June: The journalists in the country have been requested to expand their coverage on gender issues by reaching those people in the remote areas where there are big problems and the people there have no platform to voice their concerns.

This emerged at the media sessions that took place yesterday at the Tanzania SADC Gender Protocol@Work Summit in at the New Africa Hotel in Dar es Salaam organised by the Gender Links in Collaboration with Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP). Chairperson of Gender in Media in Southern Africa-Tanzania (GEMSA-Tanzania)- Dominica Haule has said that the journalists should reach the people in the village because in those areas there are many social justice and other gender related justice issues.

“The journalists must play their role in reporting gender issues that happen every day within the communities especially in those areas that are not given priority by media coverage to help curbing gender inequalities,” said Haule.

Dominica also has encouraged journalists to cooperate with gender activities hosted by institutions like GEMSAT, TGNP and Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) to reveal gender based violence and gender inequalities that are rife in the country.

Speaking about media participation in the SADC Gender Protocol awards, Dominica has said that the journalists should come forward for competition as a way to also increase and expand knowledge on understanding gender issues and media coverage.

Ambassador Christopher Liundi has urged the journalists to never give up on reporting on gender issues because they are of paramount importance in providing information and helping combating gender inequality.

“There are people or things that may discourage you on what you are doing, but the best thing to work as a team and to share ideas and information concerning gender and then spread the message to all sectors of society,” said Liundi.

This article is part of the Gender Links News Service special coverage of the SADC Gender Protocol Summits underway across the region, offering fresh views on everyday news.