The Tanzanian government has warned media houses against hiring personnel who are not trained to practice journalism.
Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the State agency that regulates electronic media in the country, said radio and TV stations should only hire workers with required qualifications.
“Those who don’t heed this warning will be fined or have their licenses withdrawn as stipulated in law,” TCRA said in a notice.
The Media Services Act 2016 states that only those with a minimum of a communication-related diploma can be accredited as journalists.
The TCRA directive comes after media graduates complained that TV and radio stations prefer employing DJs and comedians, leaving them jobless.
Critics argue that those not trained in media school disregard the profession’s ethical standards.
“Let us respect the profession, let people go to school if they want to become journalists,” A Tanzanian journalist tweeted after TCRA’s warning.
