BY HAILE DEMEKE
Over the years, fake news has become the new buzzword in the world as the scale of misinformation and fabrication of false news increases massively. The expansion of social media is not only easing exchanges of information but also complicating the way fake information is made and disseminated.
At the heart of airing and printing fake news are the reputable global mainstream media. Fake news is posing tremendous risk and countries even the advanced ones are struggling to cope up with the impacts of misinformation. More dangers is fake media contents are being injected into the information world to mislead people and impact countries.
The problem becomes more severe in information recipient countries than the countries whose media are producing global contents. For long, the global information world order has been form north to the south. And, still the order remains unchanged even in the globalized world. Still, the information word order is predominantly led by western ones.
Usually, opinions are shaped by the frontrunner global news broadcasters as they pump huge resources and expertise in the industry. Unfortunately and arguably their reputation is wrongfully serving them as carte blanche to fabricate fake news, disseminate misinformation and distort facts.
The same is true when it comes to reporting about Ethiopia. Though using the relative press freedom achieved over the two and more years, some media outlets are spreading misinformation about the country.
Ethiopia has been undergoing dramatic political, social and economic changes after Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018. Relatively speaking, freedom and diversity began to flourish as he moved quickly to shake up the media landscape. Within a few times, political prisoners and journalists were released and charges were dropped against diaspora outlets and foreign-based broadcasters were also welcomed back from exile.
The media reform has created more freedom not only for local ones but also for other international media outlets. Ethiopia’s media landscape is changing dramatically significant challenges remain though. Many publications and privately owned satellite channels were given new licenses.
To this end, more global media outlets are becoming increasingly interested in reporting about Ethiopia. However, as more media reports about Ethiopia, some media outlets are caring false stores either intentionally or unintentionally.
Menychle Meseret is Assistant Professor of Global Journalism at University of Gondar. He told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopia’s media landscape is witnessing positive changes following the reform. In fact, it is also important to note that media professionalism can only flourish in an environment of media freedom.
“Some of the changes include the preparation of the new media policy. This came as the Premier pledged to reform repressive laws. The government’s effort must continue with intensity.
There is however a drawback from the media outlet parts in fabricating and caring false information that would put the country’s interests in danger.
The media regulation system is different from one country to other and every country has its own regulatory system. Currently, the Ethiopia’s media regulatory system is accommodative and open space for both national and international media outlets.
Media should be independent from any political and related interference according the principle of journalism. Since recently, some global media outlets are becoming increasingly biased and servants of their own hidden agendas.
The global media outlets operating in the country are entertaining their own agenda which is against the principle of journalism. Citing the recent law enforcement operation process in the northern part of the country as instance, he said that most of the international media have appeared to be biased shunning out of the reality and journalism principles.
Big global media outlets are having strong affiliations with TPLF junta. For example ,the Reuters journalists write news by secretly texting with the TPLF leaders and it is difficult to confidently talk about the accuracy of news.
They have strong relationship with the top leadership which endangers the journalist by itself. This is contrary to independence which is among core principles of journalism, according to Menychel.
They are reporting information’s from the region having access to internet the time even when internet was down in the region. This indicated that they have strong relationship with the leaders. They have their own interest beyond their institutional goals. Their reports run in contradiction to basic principles of journalism.
Presentation of news and programs in those media organization seriously deviate from journalism ethics and standards. Numerous attempts have been made to frame the law enforcement operation a threat to regional peace and security, he added.
“I appreciate the action of the government in tolerating and advising those unethical media outlets. What they want is to force the government to close or take measure against them and blame the government onwards.
The government has to closely follow-up the trends of disinformation. These media houses are executing the interests of their own country, donors and others beyond their institutional objectives.”
Ethiopian broadcast authority is discharging its responsibility in advising and strategically following ill-fated reporting which harms the national interest of the country. But the government is expected to do more so as to curtail the spread of fake information by both domestic and international media outlets.
The government needs to widen space for access of information. “In our country there is a culture and tendency of reluctance of government officials in providing information. This has to improve. That’s why sometimes global media seem not to trust the government and tend to rely on other sources.”
Most of the media are advantage seekers which is unprofessional. No endangering the national interest of the countries is the responsibility of all media organizations. The media should report the fact rather than serving the hidden agenda of any groups.
Ethiopian Broadcast Authority (EBA), Communication Affairs Director Abera Wondosen for his part said that different media have made attempts to give legitimacy to illegitimate group and frame the law enforcement operation as a regional security concern.
Instead of reporting the incident in independent and constructive manner, what is expected from the media during the time of conflict, different media are engaged in inciting disorder in Ethiopia.
Most of the correspondents of the media organizations are not verifying facts in person and they have no firsthand witness of what is happing in the country. They are heavily relied on rumors and the accusations of the outlawed group as source for news.
Some media outlets are presenting the opinions of unqualified and partisan correspondents to justify international pressure against the government of Ethiopia.
EBA’s regulatory body has put in place effective media monitoring and feedback mechanism to deter misinformation attempts and it has tried to communicate with international media institutions when unprofessional and unethical activities are being observed. To this end nurturing competent and professionally equipped media correspondent is instrumental, Abera added.
The Ethiopian Herald December 12/2020
