Cooperation between ministerial information offices and the mass media in disseminating information on public goods.

This study examines the cooperation between ministerial information offices and the mass media in dissemination of public goods information. The study was conducted in Dar es Salaam region where most of the mass media and Ministerial information offices exist. It employed qualitative (key informant interviews and observations) as well quantitative (questionnaires) research design to analyze the cooperation between the selected ministerial information offices and the mass media in the dissemination of information on public goods. Purposive and random sampling techniques were used to select a sample of the respondents. Key findings revealed that there is no formal cooperation between ministries and the mass media in the dissemination of information on public goods. The Ministries and the mass media do not have research activities on public goods issues and that is why there is little coverage on such endeavours. The bureaucracy and culture of secrecy in the Tanzanian government system contribute to making it difficult for ministerial information officers to be accepted as team members in their system. Some senior officers see them as a threat due to their relationship with the mass media. This has to change so as to bring the mass media and government together in the provision of information and knowledge to the public. Sources of information including experts’ involvement have to be increased and emphasized. The study recommends that since information and knowledge sharing on public goods is crucial for national development and socioeconomic status of the public, more training and awareness programs for the ministries senior officers is needed for them to understand and value the existence and needs of information officers; expert use and consultation of specific sources of information is overemphasized. It is also high time for both the government and the mass media to formulate a policy and monitoring body to oversee the dissemination of information on public goods as required unlike what is happening currently whereby very little is covered and no one is directly responsible.