The role of newspapers in the provision of information on good governance in Tanzania: a comparative study of Mwanahalisi and Uhuru newspapers

This study investigated role of Newspapers in the provision of information on good governance in Tanzania. The objective was to examine the extent of provision of information on good governance in the newspapers in Tanzania, extent of coverage of good governance issues in the newspapers, compare the coverage of the good governance issues between publicly-owned and privately-owned newspapers and challenges that journalists face in investigating good governance issues. A content analysis of 56 issues of Mwanahalisi and Uhuru Newspapers, 6 editors and 20 readers of the newspapers were the study population. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. Secondary and primary data were gathered, mainly using interviews and questionnaires. Findings revealed that newspapers played a pivotal role in promoting good governance by investigating and exposing government mismanagement and corrupt public officials. Cartoons provide information in a manner that one can understand what is really happening. Eighty five percent of the articles and stories in Mwanahalisi were on good governance issues compared to fifty percent of the articles in Uhuru newspapers. 700 cm² of letters to editors in Uhuru have covered issues on good governance compared to 2288 cm² in Mwanahalisi. Also 10 of the cartoons in Mwanahalisi with 1540 cm² had massage of good governance, compared to 616 cm² in Uhuru. The study recommends the following: The government should not enact suppressive laws against media institutions, Strengthen and support the newspapers industry in general. The government should not try to silence the newspapers.