44 Delegates Commence Financial Journalism Training Program in Tanzania
September 22, 2019
Dar es Salaam, 20th September 2019: Bloomberg announces the start of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) Financial Journalism Training Program in Tanzania with the commencement of the first intake.
The first class of the BMIA Financial Journalism Training Program comprises 44 delegates representing Tanzania’s major media outlets including Clouds, Daily News, East African TV, Habari Leo, Mwananchi, The Citizen, ITV, Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation and Zanzibar Broadcasting Cooperation. Delegates also include mid-career professionals from government and non-governmental sectors.
Over the next two years, delegates will be trained through inter-disciplinary educational programs across data analysis, financial journalism, capital markets, economics, and the transforming media landscapes. The training will be delivered in partnership between Bloomberg, Strathmore Business School, the University of Dar es Salaam Business School and the University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
The program was officially launched in Dar es Salaam at an event attended by the Honorable Minister Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports; Prof. Ulingeta Mbamba, Dean, University of Dar es Salaam Business School; Dr. Michael Andindilile, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Dar es Salaam; Dr. George Njenga, Dean, Strathmore University Business School; Mr. Hamza Kasongo, veteran journalist and host of the “Hamza Kasongo Hour”; and Ms. Erana Stennett, Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, among others.
Dr. Michael Andindilile, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Dar es Salaam, said: “As our economy and country continues to grow, so too will the need for well-trained journalists who can understand and analyze data and report on policy, economics and markets. The commencement of the first intake of the Bloomberg Media Initiative’s Africa Journalism Training Program in Tanzania is an important development for business and financial journalism in the country.”
Ms. Erana Stennett, Director, Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, said: “In Africa, and around the world, journalism and media are undergoing major disruptions and transformation. The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa is designed to prepare African journalists to meet the new demands facing the industry with the skills necessary to remain competitive, informative and reliable.”
The BMIA Financial Journalism Training Program was launched in 2014 and has been delivered in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia. This year, BMIA expanded the Financial Training Program to Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tanzania.
Since launching, 652 graduates from 13 countries have completed the program. Close to 75% of delegates trained were journalists and representatives of the media.
The BMIA is a project of Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Financial Journalism Training Program receives support from the Ford Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
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For more information on BMIA please click here.
About the Bloomberg Africa Media Initiative (BMIA)
Launched by Mike Bloomberg in South Africa in 2014, the Bloomberg Africa Media Initiative (BMIA) is a pan-Africa program designed to accelerate development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry as well as promote transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa and beyond. The initiative has four components: It provides cross-disciplinary educational programs to increase the number of highly trained business and financial journalists, as well as supports research to stimulate new media innovations, convene international leaders to promote interactive dialogue and build strong relationships to enhance the quality of financial coverage and the availability of reliable and timely data on the continent.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2018, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $767 million. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter., please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.