The ongoing reform gives a sign that it would overhaul the Ethiopian media which have been deteriorating from time to time. Yet, experts and practitioners claim unless they are institutionalized, the reform initiatives will not guarantee press freedom.
Obviously, the reform’s success is measured by assessing whether it has practically enabled the media to discharge its duties stipulated in the constitution i.e. serving as a platform for freedom of expression and genuine public participation for democratic values to thrive. Before 1991, the Ethiopian media was under the monopoly of and serving the interest of the state alone. It was only in 1994 that the Ethiopian Constitution, at least in theory, guaranteed freedom of the press and other mass media.
But in practice, the public and in part the private media have been under the influence of censorship. While it is obvious that the level of professionalism is poor, yet the government has intentionally driven out media houses that seem to voice against its interests. The public media, which are funded by the government, were also unable to entertain diversity in the expression of opinion. Dr. Teshager Shiferaw Journalism and Communications Lecturer at Addis Ababa University say it is still difficult to claim that there is media freedom in Ethiopia.
“Media freedom has to do with multifaceted issues; journalists’ professionalism, editors’ willingness to give coverage to events, and access to information. Citizen’s level of awareness and willingness to exercise freedom of expression also matters a lot.” What is happening in the past ten months is relatively good, as to Teshager. But, democratic values have to be nurtured among the public. “What we have witnessed in the past ten months is that democratic values have not yet been properly nurtured. The media has to be free and play a key role here in promoting these values,” he says.
“At times, some people are totally unwilling to listen to what others have to say. It is this reality that has been resulting in conflicts here and there.” Democracy is a new concept in Ethiopia. Hence, the media should not focus only on daily events, says Teshager. Rather, media houses have to educate the public about civil rights and obligations, democratic principles and other issues that energize the democratization process.
The country’s history shows that whenever there is political change, the media have a tendency to be free, says Dereje Tezazu, Editor-in-Chief of Taza Magazine. “For instance, after the 1974 revolution, the media was free of censorship and served, for a brief period of time, as a platform for freedom of expression. But, then after, the then military government assured that it took hold of power and introduced censorship.
This is also what has happened during the early periods of EPRDF.” But Dereje agrees that now, the ongoing reform has also allowed for freedom of the press, but, is not sure of its sustainability. That is why, some, particularly in the private media, are still reluctant to join the media industry. “On the other hand, citizens have started to be acquainted with democratic values. The people express their minds freely. To tell the truth, there is a relative change in terms of freedom of speech,” Derege says. For him, the situation makes it high time for Ethiopian media to unite to ensure the sustainability of the change.
“Media stakeholders have to be organized to withstand any move that might pose a threat to the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press and expression. But if they opt to echo the government’s agenda, we will return to the previous state of media anarchism.” Abebe Gelaw, a journalist at Ethiopia Satellite Television (ESAT) says even though press freedom was declared after the change of government in 1991, it was not materialized as there has been intensive repression in the last 27 years targeting the media.
At this critical juncture, people are relatively free to express themselves. But this is not the case all over the country, as to Abebe, as there is still a state in the federal republic where certain media houses could not freely operate. “Thus, we cannot say that there is press freedom all over Ethiopia.” He also underlines the fact that Ethiopia is still undemocratic country. “We have to emphasize on this fact even if there is an aspiration to build a democratic society,” he says.
“The current reform is promising; we all have admired and expressed our support for the current transition. But it needs to be steepened; there have to be institutions that can sustain democratic values. Citizens have to have proactive political life and actively participate in the political life.” Gebregyorgis Abreha, Communications Affairs Director for Ethiopian Broadcast Authority says democratic values can only be nurtured through effective interaction between the media and the general public. “To do so, first, the media have to focus on reporting the reality on the ground.”
Besides, there is a diversified outlook among the public regarding freedom of expression. “Hence, we have to be able to cultivate a culture of tolerance and respect the value of others. But, we have been observing that even the media houses could not even tolerate the views of their counterparts. Some have directed powerful words at each other.
This has to change.” Despite the ongoing change and radical reform measures, democratic values are yet to develop. Of course, democratic values could not come overnight, Gebregyorgis says, it is directly related to the overall process, but doing so has to be a routine activity and the media is at the center of it all.
The Ethiopian Herald, March 14/2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
