Dar es Salaam. On Monday, November 04, 2024, Finnish Members of Parliament Janne Heikkinen, Olga Oinas-Panuma, and Pia Hiltunen, who represent the International Network of Young Parliamentarians in the Parliament of Finland, visited The Chanzo offices in Tanzania. Their visit aimed to gain insights into Tanzanian media and the broader state of journalism in the region.
The visit was led by Deputy Ambassador Tomi Lounio from the Embassy of Finland in Tanzania. During their time at The Chanzo, the Finnish MPs engaged in discussion with the publication’s journalists about the media landscape in both Tanzania and Africa.
Janne Heikkinen, Chair of the International Network of Young Parliamentarians, shared his perspective on the relationship between the press and Parliament in Finland, sparking a discussion with The Chanzo editors Khalifa Said and Tony Alfred K. The editors highlighted similarities in how journalists interact with legislative bodies in both nations, despite distinct cultural contexts.
Joel Ntile, another The Chanzo’s editor, took the opportunity to introduce the publication’s history since its founding in 2020. Mr Ntile, who doubles as the company’s Administrative Manager, explained that The Chanzo was launched to address a gap in the Tanzanian media landscape, which had become heavily focused on entertainment and sports coverage.
“We saw a market opportunity for journalism that delves into complex issues and offers in-depth analysis,” Mr Ntile noted.
On his part, Mr Said, the publication’s Editor-in-Chief, explained The Chanzo’s mission, which centres on “people-centered journalism.” He emphasized: “We strive to make people’s voices and perspectives central to most of our stories.” Mr Said added that The Chanzo also sees its role as contributing to the positive trajectory of Tanzania’s democratic development.
Tony Alfred K, the company’s Managing Editor, also shared insights from his recent media-focused visit to Finland, which was supported by the Finnish Embassy.
Finland consistently ranks among the top five countries globally in press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders. It ranks fifth, following Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Unlike Tanzania, Finland does not have specific laws regulating the media; instead, Finnish media organisations follow a voluntary self-regulation mechanism. Additionally, media literacy is emphasized in Finnish education, equipping citizens with critical skills from an early age.
While Tanzania’s press freedom ranking currently stands at 97, this marks a significant improvement from its previous position of 143 in 2023, reflecting progress in the nation’s media environment.
