Media houses urged to generate income from digital content

Dar es Salaam. Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) Executive Editor, Victor Mushi, has urged media houses in Tanzania to adopt technological innovations as a fresh revenue stream instead of depending solely on traditional content sales methods.

Speaking during a debate on the Mwananchi Spaces on Wednesday, Mr Mushi said that for online media products, content should be self-sustaining.

The Mwananchi Spaces debate gave various media practitioners and stakeholders the opportunity to discuss how online content products can assist in the operations of media outlets. 

The debate was held electronically on X, formerly known as Twitter.

In the digital-first journey, MCL has made changes to its three brands, Mwananchi, The Citizen and Mwanaspoti.

Through the improvements made to those brands’ websites, some content now requires readers to contribute a small amount of money to be able to access content.

This content is well-detailed, with adequate analysis and is distributed to consumers through MCL digital channels when they need it.

“As MCL, we have set quality standards that determine which online content should be premium-paid and which content should be accessed free of charge,” Mr Mushi noted.

The minister for Information, Communication and Information Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye, said the government is ready to receive suggestions on what it can do to support the efforts of stakeholders in selling products online.

“Nothing that costs money to make will be given to you for free. The media should make the community understand that no content is free,” he noted.