DAR ES SALAAM, April 23 -- JOURNALISM is a powerful force that can either unite a nation or quietly tear it apart, experts have warned, urging media practitioners to embrace their responsibility in promoting peace and national cohesion.

Dr Egbert Mkoko, a lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam School of Journalism and Mass Communication, said the media holds significant influence in shaping public perception and the direction of society.

“Journalism is a powerful force in society — it can connect people, strengthen democracy and drive development. But it can also divide communities, spread fear and destabilise a nation,” Dr Mkoko said, noting that the stories journalists choose to tell ultimately shape the kind of...