Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Launches Second Round of Financial Journalism Training in Tanzania

The second round will launch with business and financial training for more than 50 delegates following a two-year postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic

May 10, 2022, Dar es Salaam: The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) has today announced the second intake of its Financial Journalism Training (FJT) program in Tanzania, which will train journalists and media professionals in business and financial journalism, to bolster the country’s financial reporting industry. The resumption of the program follows a two-year postponement because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conducted in partnership with Strathmore Business School, the University of Dar es Salaam Business School, and the University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication, this follows a successful first intake in 2019 which saw more than 40 journalists graduate from the program.

The second intake will see over 50 journalists and professionals from government, the private and nonprofit sectors and Tanzania’s major media organizations trained over six-months on topics including data analysis, capital markets, accounting, public policy, economics and the transforming media landscape to strengthen their skills and knowledge in business and financial reporting. The training will be facilitated by Bloomberg News reporters and faculty of the universities involved.

The Financial Journalism Training program aims to accelerate the development of a globally competitive media and financial reporting industry in Tanzania, to further transparency, accountability, and good governance in the country and continent at large. The program is a core component of the BMIA, which aims to contribute to the advancement of business and financial reporting in Africa, recognizing the important role the media plays in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance.

Commenting on the announcement, Erana Stennett, Director at Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa, said: “We are pleased to be resuming the Financial Journalism Training Program in Tanzania after a two-year pause. We believe that equipping journalists with the skills and knowledge to better report on business and financial matters is complementary to Tanzania’s continued economic growth and progress.”

Speaking at the launch of the second intake, Professor Florens Luoga, Governor at Central Bank of Tanzania, said: “At this critical post-pandemic period, strong business and economic media reporting is core to keeping stakeholders informed in order to accelerate Tanzania’s economic recovery. By training more journalists, BMIA’s program is contributing to Tanzania’s ongoing economic development and progress.”

The launch of the second intake in Tanzania follows the program’s success in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia and the first intake in Tanzania, where over 785 delegates have graduated to date.

Since its launch in 2014, BMIA has reached more than 1,000 stakeholders in Africa. BMIA has also hosted five annual, in-person forums for media owners and senior leaders in business, government and civil society.

ENDS

Noora Abul: nabul@bloomberg.net