JOURNALISTS and media outlets across the country need to uncover and report hidden challenges facing Tanzania’s mega development projects, former Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) president, retired judge Thomas Mihayo has declared.

Opening the 27th MCT annual general meeting and launching of Excellence in Journalism Awards Tanzania (EJAT) 2025 in Dar es Salaam, yesterday, he emphasized that the media must always prioritize the national interest.

“The media has a crucial responsibility to report on matters that affect the future of our nation,” he declared, cautioning against unethical practices such as blackmail, threats and biased reporting.

He urged media practitioners to adhere strictly to truth, professionalism and independence as issues of principle, since journalists and media outlets have to report the truth, avoid spreading hatred or malice, and refuse to be used for personal gain.

Media houses need to uphold integrity and serve as pillars of ethics while ensuring the safety of journalists, he said, intimating that MCT must keep advocating for stronger and fairer media laws.

Ernest Sungura, the MCT executive secretary, highlighted the council’s achievements over the past three decades, particularly in striving for financial sustainability. Donor dependency has significantly decreased from 90 percent in 2023 to 60 percent a year later, largely from strategic planning and effective internal resource mobilization, he said.

Minor changes took place in MCT membership, declining from 261 earlier to 244 by January this year, but MCT expects more media institutions to join soon, he said, stressing the need for unity in the media fraternity.

“Without solidarity we cannot effectively serve our profession or ensure the safety of journalists,” he said, reiterating the urgency for media-friendly laws that protect freedom of expression and safeguard practitioners.

Commenting on EJAT 2025 expectations, he talked of significant improvements in the submission and judging process with a strong focus on digital transformation. “This year, we’ve introduced a more transparent, technology-driven system. Judges will evaluate entries through a digital platform, and every journalist will have their own account,” he explained.

EJAT 2025 kicks off operationally on October 1, with entries expected to showcase excellence, innovation and ethical journalism as grounding Tanzanian journalism in truth, professionalism and public accountability is of utmost importance, he added.