Newspapers’ Framing of Petroleum Exploration in Tanzania: A Case Study of Daily News and the Citizen

This study examines how two major Tanzanian newspapers, Daily News and The Citizen frame petroleum exploration activities and how these narratives shape public understanding of the sector. Guided by framing theory, the study applied qualitative content analysis to eight purposively selected articles published between June and August 2023. The analysis focused on identifying dominant and secondary frames, examining tone, and assessing the depth and diversity of media narratives regarding petroleum exploration. Findings reveal that both newspapers predominantly employ economic framing, presenting petroleum exploration as a driver of national development, foreign investment, job creation, and technological advancement. This aligns with existing literature suggesting that media in emerging economies often emphasize the economic potential of extractive industries while downplaying associated risks. Secondary frames differ across outlets: The Citizen occasionally incorporates technological and environmental concerns, while Daily News highlights social inclusion, emphasizing the equitable distribution of benefits. Despite these variations, critical issues such as environmental sustainability, governance, and community experiences remain marginal in both newspapers. Tone analysis shows overwhelmingly positive reporting, with articles supporting government-led development narratives and presenting exploration activities as beneficial and largely unproblematic. The limited volume of coverage further suggests that petroleum exploration is not a sustained media priority, reflecting structural gaps in specialized energy journalism within Tanzania. The study concludes that Tanzanian newspapers provide a narrow representation of petroleum exploration and recommends diversified, evidence-based reporting to support informed public discourse and resource governance. ARTICLE’S INFO Article No.: 012426013 Type: Research Full Text: PDF, PHP, HTML, EPUB, MP3 DOI: Accepted: 23/01/2026 Published: 31/01/2026 Keywords: Newspapers’ Framing Framing theory, Petroleum Exploration in Tanzania, Media analysis, Daily News and The Citizen, Tanzania *Corresponding Author Janeth A. Mesomapya E-mail: bapropsk@gmail.com; janethmesomapya18@gmail.com Article’s QR code