Investigative journalism and anti-corruption Struggle: Challenges Within Post Reform Print Mass Media in Tanzania

Increasing emphasis on good governance by global community has made the issue of corruption come to the center stage. In development, it is perceived as impediment to sustainable development. That calls for anti-corruption struggle by different stakeholders. Mass Media has a crucial role to play through investigative journalism. This study is on Investigative Journalism and Anti-corruption Struggle: Challenges Within Post Reform Print Mass Media in Tanzania. Its purpose was to find out factors within the print mass media that impede investigative journalism on political grand corruption. The study sample included both respondents within and outside the media. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used. Data collection instruments were in-depth interviews, questionnaires, documentary survey, participatory observation and focused group discussions. The findings revealed that bad governance within the print media companies due to discretional, monopoly of power and resources for decision making by media owners resulted into conflict of interests, editorial weaknesses as well as human and material resource constraints that impeded investigative journalism on political grand corruption. The study recommends governance reforms within the Tanzania’s post reform media to establish checks and balance that will ensure good governance in order to encourage investigative journalism on political grand corruption.