Govt: Deadline for newspaper registration won’t be extended

Dar es Salaam. The Director Information Services (MAELEZO) and government spokesperson Dr Hassan Abbas has urged all print media organizations to register their newspapers and obtain new licenses on time because the deadline will not be extended.

Mr Abbas said this on Wednesday as he addressed journalists in Dar es Salaam.

He said the registration fee is Sh1 million. He said this when handing over license to IPP media, the publishers of guardian and Nipashe among others.

The government has announced the commencement of print media outlets re-registration process at the end of last month.

Addressing a press conference today, August 23, the Director General of the Information Services Department and Chief Government Spokesperson, Dr Hassan Abbas, said both existing and new print media are supposed to be registered afresh in accordance with the Media Services Act of 2016.

"While existing print media will have a re-registration deadline, which is October 15 this year, registration for new print media will have no deadline," he was quoted as saying by a section of media.

He named particulars required during registration process as certificates of registration of the media organisation, business plan that clearly state media policy, type of editors and journalists to be recruited and curriculum vitae of owners of the organisation.

Media Services Act 2016 establishes three institutional frameworks or organs namely; the Information Services Department charged with registration of print media, the Independent Media Council and the Accreditation Board that transforms the Tanzania media to true professionalism.