20/01/2026
Today, Union of Tanzania Press Clubs (UTPC) was honoured to receive a courtesy visit from the Journalists Accreditation Board (JAB) at our offices in Dodoma.
According to JAB acting executive director, Patrick Kipangula, among its core responsibilities, JAB is mandated to promote ethics and professionalism in the media industry and build journalists’ capacity nationwide.
UTPC strongly welcomes this mandate, as it aligns directly with Pillar 7 of the UTPC 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on ethics, professionalism, and continuous capacity development for journalists across Tanzania.
We reaffirm our position that professional accreditation must build credibility—not become gate-keeping that constrains civic space. Accreditation should elevate standards, strengthen public trust, and protect the public interest, while remaining inclusive of competent journalists serving communities at all levels.
UTPC executive director Kenneth Simbaya, expressed UTPC readiness to serve as a delivery partner, leveraging UTPC’s nationwide press club network as regional hubs for ethics reinforcement, professional development, and two-way feedback.
We also emphasised a shared principle: accreditation must come with duty of care, not just control. When regulation and the profession walk together, journalism becomes stronger, safer, and more trusted by the public it serves.
UTPC looks forward to a constructive collaboration with JAB in advancing ethical, professional, and public-interest journalism in Tanzania.
