There have been unfair rather far-fetched media biases since Ethiopia has begun the law enforcement operation in Tigray State. Guided by their hidden motives, falling short of journalism ethics, some media outlets have been visibly taking sides as they continue misguiding and misinforming the international community.
The law enforcement operation carried out in Tigray state was about saving the country and ensuring justice and peace, there could not be more important task than protecting the people of Tigray to the Ethiopian government.
On the contrary, some media outlets have been engaged in besmirching the candid efforts of the government of Ethiopia to help avail humanitarian assistances to those affected in due courses of the law enforcement operation.
Through unbalanced reporting, the media are not only standing against the truth, but are also eroding the very essence of journalism principles. It indeed is an affront to the most-revered profession in the world.
While the media outlets lodge complaints over what they said ‘limited or no access to the state’, it is a far cry that these outlets continue to publish unverified information.
Most of the media reports appear to be unbalanced and single sourced; they literally narrate one side view and are not supplemented with confirmed facts.
It is an open secret that, the media outlets have their own mission and vision, but this does not mean that truth and facts should be compromised. All these attempts are part and parcel of the information war waged not only against Ethiopia but also against the truth.
No matter how disparaging and disgusting the media practices could be, the sole way to counter fight the information war is to let the truth come out and the fake news fade away.
In this regard, the Ethiopian embassies and consulates operating overseas continue to provide factual information to the international community.
There have been a series of discussion, briefings and consultations with foreign diplomats at home and abroad. These efforts are meant to show transparency, otherwise in the end, the truth will speak for itself.
One thing is clear though, if the misinformation and biased reporting go unchecked, the ramification would be enormous. Undermining the facts by omission or suppression will eventually discredit the reputation and trustworthiness of the media outlets.
Now that Ethiopia is inviting foreign media outlets to enter the state, there is high expectation that these media outlets even those engaged in false reporting will right the wrong by having firsthand information and solid facts.
The measure Ethiopia has taken presents the international community to have the raw facts and make informed decisions. But this is not to mean that the media outlets should put the national interests of security of the country at risks either through exaggeration or distortion of factual evidences.
But again, no matter how long and what it takes, as the saying goes: Truth and dawn will get crystal clear gradually; the truth would speak for itself.
The Ethiopian Herald January 29/2021
