Dawit Kebede
Encyclopedia
Dawit Kebede is an Ethiopian
print media journalist
and winner of the 2010 CPJ International Press Freedom Award.
, he became a columnist in Ethiopian newspapers on socio-political issues. He later worked at Habesha Journal magazine, a bilingual health journal. In 2004 Dawit founded and became editor-in-chief of Hadar Newspaper, which has been critical of the policies of Prime Minister Zenawi's
government.
might have lost the election. In June 2005 police opened gunfire in Addis Ababa
against protesters, massacring numerous unarmed opposition supporters
. Dawit condemned these actions.
In November 2005 authorities arrested him with senior leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy
for alleged involvement in the demonstrations. All were charged with treason
, genocide
, and attempts to subvert the constitution, and though the court sentenced the prisoners to life in prison they were pardoned and freed in July 2007. Though many of the editors in jail with Dawit have gone into exile.
(CPJ).
in 2010 for risking his freedom and security in the course of his reporting.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
print media journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and winner of the 2010 CPJ International Press Freedom Award.
Early career
After graduating in journalism and communication from Unity UniversityUnity University
Unity University is the first privately owned institute of higher learning to be awarded full-fledged university status in Ethiopia by the Ministry of Education...
, he became a columnist in Ethiopian newspapers on socio-political issues. He later worked at Habesha Journal magazine, a bilingual health journal. In 2004 Dawit founded and became editor-in-chief of Hadar Newspaper, which has been critical of the policies of Prime Minister Zenawi's
Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Since 1985, he has been chairman of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front , and is currently head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Meles was born in Adwa, Tigray in Northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father from...
government.
2005 Election Controversy
During the 2005 Ethiopian general election, Dawit criticized the Ethiopian government by writing articles and editorials suggesting that the EPRDFEthiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
might have lost the election. In June 2005 police opened gunfire in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
against protesters, massacring numerous unarmed opposition supporters
2005 Ethiopian police massacres
The Ethiopian police massacre refers to the killing of innocent people by government forces during June and November 2005 which led to the deaths of 193 protesters and injury of 763 others, mostly in the capital Addis Ababa, following the May 2005 elections in Ethiopia...
. Dawit condemned these actions.
In November 2005 authorities arrested him with senior leaders of the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy
Coalition for Unity and Democracy
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy is a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. Its leader is Dr...
for alleged involvement in the demonstrations. All were charged with treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
, genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
, and attempts to subvert the constitution, and though the court sentenced the prisoners to life in prison they were pardoned and freed in July 2007. Though many of the editors in jail with Dawit have gone into exile.
Recent career
He established a new company in March 2008 and began publishing the Awramba Times newspaper, of which he is Managing Editor. Currently Awramba Times is the second largest Ethiopian newspaper and the country’s only newspaper that questions state authorities according to the Committee to Protect JournalistsCommittee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
(CPJ).
Awards
Dawit Kebede won CPJ's International Press Freedom AwardCPJ International Press Freedom Awards
The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honour journalists around the world who show courage in defending press freedom in the face of attacks, threats or imprisonment. Created in 1991, the awards are administered by the Committee to Protect Journalists....
in 2010 for risking his freedom and security in the course of his reporting.