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Njonjo Omari Mfaume

Assistant Lecturer

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Biography

Njonjo Omari Mfaume is a committed journalism scholar and practitioner with extensive experience in teaching, writing, and media consultancy. Since joining the University of Dar es Salaam’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2006, he has dedicated himself to nurturing the next generation of media professionals in Tanzania and beyond.

He combines a strong academic background—spanning communication studies at Makerere University, journalism training at the University of Dar es Salaam, and further studies in Uganda and China—with over 15 years of practical work in newsrooms, public relations, and capacity-building initiatives. His career reflects a blend of scholarship, professional practice, and public service, making him a trusted voice in debates on media, governance, and society.

Beyond academia, Mfaume has contributed to national and international outlets as a columnist, consulting editor, and freelance writer. His work has focused on amplifying issues of governance, religion, environment, and citizen empowerment, always with an eye toward the evolving role of media in social transformation

Research Interest

Mfaume’s scholarly and professional interests are centered on the intersections between media, society, and politics. His focus areas include:

  • Political Communication – examining how media shapes and is shaped by political discourse and democratic processes.
  • Religion Reporting – exploring the unique challenges and opportunities of covering religious issues in plural societies.
  • Digital and Online Journalism – investigating the transformation of media practice in the age of the internet and social media.
  • Media Relations in Public Relations – assessing how institutions and communities can strategically engage the media for advocacy, reputation, and development.

Contacts

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Projects

Over the years, Mfaume has been involved in a variety of academic, media, and civic projects. His portfolio includes:

  • Serving as Consulting Editor for Imaan Media, supporting print, radio, and television development.
  • Acting as Chief Public Relations Officer for the Tanzania Muslim Professionals Association (TAMPRO).
  • Leading and participating in capacity-building initiatives for faith-based media and civic organizations.
  • Working with national and international development partners (including UNDP, GTZ, and AMREF) on training, media development, and election support projects.
  • Coordinating editorial and communication projects that blend professional journalism with civic engagement, including serving as advisor and contributor to community-focused publications.
  • Founding and guiding student-focused journalism initiatives such as The Hill Observer, the University of Dar es Salaam’s newspaper

Publications

Mfaume’s body of work spans both academic and professional media. A significant part of his professional contribution is in print journalism, where he consistently publishes numerous articles, commentaries, and features on a weekly basis across a range of newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. These works cover governance, religion, media, civic engagement, and contemporary socio-political issues, providing accessible analysis to the wider public and shaping conversations in Tanzania and beyond.

His scholarly contributions include:

  • The Impact of Ownership on Editorial Independence in Tanzanian Media: A Survey of Journalists and Media Managers (Media Council of Tanzania, 2013).
  • Language Policy for Radio in Uganda and Tanzania: Public Sphere or “Public Sphericules”? (with Dr. Monica Chibita), MAWAZO Journal, Makerere University, Vol. 10, No. 3 (2011).
  • Teaching Manuals and Training Resources – contributed to the design and production of professional training materials, most notably the Newsletter Production Teaching Manual (with others, GTZ/SJMC, 2010), developed for training district council staff in Tanga Region. Such resources have been widely used to build practical skills in media communication and newsletter production within local government and civic organisations