"Kabudi to Launch Journalists Accreditation Board in March"

Kabudi to Unveil Journalists Accreditation Board and New Press Cards

Friday, February 28, 2025

The Minister for Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Prof. Palamagamba Kabudi, will officially launch the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) and introduce new press cards on March 3, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, according to Mr. Gerson Msigwa, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Government Chief Spokesperson.

During the ceremony, Prof. Kabudi will also present essential working materials to the board’s newly appointed chairperson, Mr. Tido Mhando. These materials include the Media Policy, the Media Services Act, and the accompanying regulations.

The establishment of the Journalists Accreditation Board marks a significant development for the Tanzanian media sector. The Board is tasked with certifying journalists and issuing press cards to those who meet the established legal criteria, ensuring that high standards of professionalism and ethics are upheld across the media landscape. This initiative is governed by the Media Services Act, Chapter 229, which empowers the Board to grant press cards to journalists from both public and private media outlets, as well as freelancers.

Before the Board's formation, the responsibility for issuing press cards lay with the Information Department. The new structure is aimed at streamlining the accreditation process, ensuring that only qualified individuals are recognized as professional journalists.

In addition to issuing press cards, the board will play a pivotal role in advising the government on journalism curricula and training at universities. It will also provide ethical journalism training, reinforcing the importance of responsible journalism while collaborating with academic institutions to promote the media profession.

The creation of the Journalists Accreditation Board was formally announced on September 18, 2024, following Prof. Kabudi’s appointment of Mr. Mhando, along with six other members, to oversee its operations. Six staff members from the Ministry have been assigned to the Board’s secretariat to support its work.