SECTOR 4 4.2 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by independent/nonstatutory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. The non-statutory, self-regulatory body, the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), has a code of conduct for both the print and the broadcast media, to which most media houses reportedly adhere. The MCT also encourages newsrooms to have their own codes of conduct to prevent journalists from being sent to the council. The MCT’s complaints committee is used by aggrieved members of the public to complain about ethical shortcomings in the media. The council received about 30 to 40 such cases each year, “but twice this number in an election year”. “There is a 90% compliance rate from media houses accused of inaccuracies or unfairness, and they are normally very quick to apologise and publish retractions. We are doing well on self-regulation.” The MCT usually orders defaulting media houses to publish an apology, a retraction and a right to reply of the aggrieved party. It is very rare for the MCT’s complaints body to order a fine. If this is done, it is usually not so much as a penalty but to compensate the aggrieved party. Cases brought to the MCT are settled within three months. If people do not agree with the council’s decision, they can take their cases to court, although this can be a very costly and lengthy process, sometimes taking up to five years. Media houses that are taken to court for defamation and found guilty are usually punished severely with very high damages. “In one case, a court ordered a media house to pay damages of Tsh1.3 billion (US$1 million). Because of these stiff penalties, the compliance rate with MCT decisions is very high.” Section 4 of the draft Media Services Act proposes the establishment of a statutory media council, which could impact severely on the media. Sanctions listed in the draft for erring media houses and journalists have created a chilling effect among media practitioners. The penalties range from fines of up to Tsh20 million and journalists’ licences being revoked. “This could kill the industry.” “The government wants to control the media completely. The MCT’s self-regulatory system is working effectively, but the state has no control in this area. If there is a statutory media council, a parallel structure, this will make the MCT’s existence superfluous. There won’t be room for both.” A concern for media practitioners is who would be nominated to such a statutory media council. “According to the draft, the chairman will be appointed by the 58 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Tanzania 2015