Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian President, Mrs. Samia Suluhu Hassan, will honor World Press Freedom Day 2022 in Arusha in May as guest of honour.

The event will see the Eastern Africa Editors Society (EAES) come together as the African continent celebrates and deliberates on issues of media freedom, guided by this year’s theme; Journalism under digital siege.

Confirming the President as guest of honor on May 3, Tanzania Publishers Forum (Tef) President Deodatus Balile said it was an honor for the President to accept the invitation.

“The President is on his toes in expanding access to information and media freedom in Tanzania,” he said in a press release given to The Citizen on Tuesday, April 5.

“We look forward to hearing from her on how she intends to take them further in Tanzania and challenge other African countries to see the media as an important part of growing our democracy.”

The convention will seek to discuss the advancement of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) for an evolving media in Africa, as well as the impact of journalism and freedom of expression for sustainable development.

It will also seek to discuss digital advancement and challenges associated with gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE) in public media and information dissemination.

The agenda list will also include a discussion of the viability of media in the digital age as a pathway to resilience and the effects and moderation of privacy, online surveillance and piracy on public trust. in journalism.

EAES President Churchill Otieno said hosting the convention in Tanzania and the Tanzanian President attending sends the biggest signal yet that the continent is “switching on the lights” that shine, inform and challenge society. .

“The symbolism with which this convention is being held should send a clear message that the media industry will not sit idly by as its gains are eroded by and by digital platforms,” ​​he said.

Added: We will build solidarity, learn, advocate and advance space to be as free as it should be to ensure we can continue to hold governments to account, educate, inform and entertain the public . »

The convention is coordinated with international and local partners and an organizing committee which includes, among others, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), Tef and other partners who are part of the Right to Know Coalition.