Media professionals and stakeholders will this year come together in Arusha to commemorate Word Press Freedom Day – WPFD, to be held from May 02 to 03, 2014.
This is the second time for WPFD, which is an annual event to be marked in Arusha at national level, last year the event was held in the same city but at East African regional level.
The choice of Arusha as the hosting city this year was agreed by stakeholders with the intention of following up the implementation of WPFD 2013 Declaration with the East African Community secretariat.
The theme for this year where about 200 delegates will congregate for two days come from all over the nation is Media freedom for good governance and development.
The theme has been curved out following the role that media plays in promoting good governance and socio-economic development of the nation.
During the two days, academic papers on the state of media particularly on promoting media freedom and its role in good governance and development will be presented.
Five papers will be presented by experienced academics and professionals. Al Amin Yusuf, Communication specialist for UNESCO will take through the delegates with his paper entitled: How Media freedom contributes to good governance and development.
University of Dar es Salaam lecturer James Jesse will present a paper on the Importance of Rule of Law in protecting the right of freedom of expression.
There will be a paper on Ethical Reporting as a Key to Freedom of expression which will be presented by the Open University of Tanzania lecturer Dr Samwilu Mwaffisi.
Simon Berege from the University of Iringa will tackle a paper titled Freedom of Expression in the Cyberspace and Mr Ernest Sungura from the Tanzania Media Fund will present a paper on Professionalism and Sustainability in Media.
Also during the event victims of press freedom violation will give testimonies on the problems they have encountered. A report of the state of media in Southern Africa authored by Media Institute of Southern Africa – MISA, will be launched.
There will be a launch of the WPFD Song video. Artiste Mrisho Mpoto who composed the song will also launch his new album titled Waite.
Judge Mark Bomani, former Attorney General and High Court Judge will be the Chief Guest. Several dignitaries including from the United Republic of Tanzania have been invited to attend.
The event has been jointly organized by Media Institute of Southern Africa – Tanzania Chapter - MISA (T) Chapter, Media Council of Tanzania – MCT, Tanzania Media Fund- TMF, Union of Tanzania Press Clubs-UTPC, United Nations, Tanzania Office, Tanzania Citizens Information Bureau –TCIB, Media Owners Association of Tanzania – MOAT, Tanzania Editors Forum –TEF, Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), Arusha Press Club and Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA).
WPFD has been used by media stakeholders to agitate for states to put in place friendly media laws which guarantee press freedom in their respective countries.
WPFD 2014 organizing committee is proud to be associated with Public Sector Pensions Fund (PSFP), Government Employees Pensions Fund (GEPF), Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.
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