SECTOR 4 4.1 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness Discussions revealed deep divisions among panellists about the standard of reporting in the Tanzanian media in terms of fairness and accuracy. Some panellists were of the view that news reports and analyses were generally not fair. Problems include poor representation of the views of sources and bias against certain political and social groups. By and large, news reports and analyses tend to follow the dominant state-led socio-political discourse, with little room for critical appraisals. The state media, notably, would not echo views that criticise the government or offer alternatives to officially stated positions. One panellist said the media was guilty of reproducing stereotypes, which often cause frustration among the ethnic and religious minority. When it comes to cultural issues and ideologies there is a tendency for journalists to align with what everyone says. In reporting certain religions, journalists do not go [a] step further [to get at the truth] and would base their stories on commonly held assumptions. Other panellists argued that the social and political context in which journalists worked was to blame for the perceived bias in news coverage. The state media, they pointed out, had as its mission to promote the official position and could not be expected to conduct itself otherwise. They said the dominance of the state media and other outlets that are sympathetic to the government and ruling party overshadowed a handful of independent news organisations promoting all views and voices. Problems with fair reporting were described in close association with inaccuracy. Panellists said journalists often ran stories that did not reflect headlines and contain misspelt names and inaccurate information. One panellist said it was typical, for example, that journalists produce different accounts of the same event that are shaped not by facts, but by the political and ideological beliefs of the journalists. Misquoting news sources, said the panellist, was quite common: You could be interviewed by two journalists. One would produce an accurate account, but another will imagine something completely different and attribute it to you. Sometimes, facts and views are misinterpreted and given a completely different impression of what was intended. Journalists blamed low standards on the pressure of deadlines and lack of robust quality control systems within newsrooms. Departures to other corporations and retrenchments over the years have reduced the number of experienced journalists still practising. One panellist explained that with fewer people in newsrooms, it was easy for errors to go unnoticed. 45 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019