University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication (UDSM-SJMC)
  • Yearbook on Media Quality in Tanzania
  • Rationale for Yearbook on Media Quality
  • Executive Summary
  • Methodology
  • Context of reporting
  • Profile of Tanzanian Journalists
    • Topical coverage
    • Zanzibar Topical profile
  • Structure in stories
  • Portrait of Tanzania journalist
  • Quality Index
  • Special topic: The blue economy
  • Downloads
  • What the media report about us
  • Visitor Statistics
  • Short Training
  • Other links
  • Contact Us
© UDSM-SJMC.
The Yearbook on Media Quality in Tanzania is supported by the embassies of Switzerland and the Netherlands in Tanzania
University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication (UDSM-SJMC)
  • Yearbook on Media Quality in Tanzania
  • Rationale for Yearbook on Media Quality
  • Executive Summary
  • Methodology
  • Context of reporting
  • Profile of Tanzanian Journalists
    • Topical coverage
    • Zanzibar Topical profile
  • Structure in stories
  • Portrait of Tanzania journalist
  • Quality Index
  • Special topic: The blue economy
  • Downloads
  • What the media report about us
  • Visitor Statistics
  • Short Training
  • Other links
  • Contact Us
HomeResults 2022Topical coverage

Topical coverage

The media in Tanzania covers varied topics. Development issues (education, health, agriculture, environment, water) have emerged as the most covered topic (30%), followed by contentious issues (conflicts, social problems, corruption, good governance, Gender Based Violence (GBV), which accounts for 25%, and economic issues (infrastructure, oil and gas, employment, trade) for 22%. On the other hand, political issues play a minor role, as it accounts for only 10% of the coverage, with research findings hardly covered by the media (1%). The media mainly cover development largely because it is the main topic preoccupying government leaders and officials as part of the socio-economic agenda. Since the media’s coverage is largely based on official information these leaders provide, the likelihood of the media prioritising such issues is high. Political coverage attracted less coverage in this study because there were few political activities in the country during the period under review. Nevertheless, political discussions are a permanent feature on lively online platforms such as Twitter space and clubhouse.