Media in Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
The Media in Ethiopia consists of radio
and television
, which remain under the control of the Ethiopia
n government, as well as private newspapers and magazines. In comparison to the length of Ethiopia
's over-2,000-year history as a sovereign nation, the media is a very recent phenomenon.
Ten radio broadcast stations, eight AM
and two shortwave
, are licensed to operate in Ethiopia. The major radio broadcasting stations include Radio Ethiopia
, Radio Fanahttp://www.radiofana.com (or "Torch") a private station, Radio Voice of One Free Ethiopia, and the Voice of the Revolution of Tigray. The single television broadcast network is Ethiopian Television, with 24 hours of broadcast and three regional stations, namely Addis TV, TV Oromiyaa (with two live studios), and Dire TV. In keeping with government policy, radio broadcasts occur in a variety of languages.
Print media, because of high poverty
levels, low literacy rates, and poor distribution outside of the capital, serve only a small portion of the population. The paucity of distribution is mirrored by a scarcity of diversity in the official press. Since the end of the civil war
private newspapers and magazines have started to appear, and this sector of the media market, despite heavy-handed regulation from the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
and the ups and downs of Ethiopia's economy
, continues to grow. Despite increasing pressure from the current government at home, the much more affluent and cosmopolitan Ethiopian diaspora abroad has helped further the cause for a free press in Ethiopia, and has also catered to its many extranational communities with news services (both online and off) in both Amharic and English
.
When the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) came to power in 1991, one of their first acts was to give the Ethiopian media far more freedoms than it had previously experienced, ending the censorship that had prevailed for decades under both the Derg
and the imperial regime. Despite this liberalization, the relationship between the EPRDF and the private press has been one of deep mistrust. Clampdowns on the private press occurred regularly in the 1990s, with the arrest of dozens of journalists who were accused of publishing false information, or violating other provisions of the 1992 press law. This law allowed government authorities to detain journalists without charge. According to Human Rights Watch
, the high point of freedom for Ethiopian media was in period leading up to the 2005 elections. Following the controversial election, when there were many instances of violence both by protesters and the authorities, many journalists were arrested, alongside member of opposition parties, and afterwards tried for "outrages against the constitution" and other crimes, a number of them in absentia. Fines were also imposed on Ethiopian publishing houses.
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, which remain under the control of the Ethiopia
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...
n government, as well as private newspapers and magazines. In comparison to the length of Ethiopia
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...
's over-2,000-year history as a sovereign nation, the media is a very recent phenomenon.
Ten radio broadcast stations, eight AM
AM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
and two shortwave
Shortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
, are licensed to operate in Ethiopia. The major radio broadcasting stations include Radio Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia is an album by the Patti Smith Group, released in October 1976 on Arista Records.- History :Radio Ethiopia was the followup record to Smith's widely acclaimed debut Horses. In interviews surrounding the album's release, Smith explained that she chose producer Jack Douglas in hopes of...
, Radio Fanahttp://www.radiofana.com (or "Torch") a private station, Radio Voice of One Free Ethiopia, and the Voice of the Revolution of Tigray. The single television broadcast network is Ethiopian Television, with 24 hours of broadcast and three regional stations, namely Addis TV, TV Oromiyaa (with two live studios), and Dire TV. In keeping with government policy, radio broadcasts occur in a variety of languages.
Print media, because of high poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
levels, low literacy rates, and poor distribution outside of the capital, serve only a small portion of the population. The paucity of distribution is mirrored by a scarcity of diversity in the official press. Since the end of the civil war
Ethiopian Civil War
The Ethiopian Civil War began on September 12, 1974 when the Marxist Derg staged a coup d'état against Emperor Haile Selassie, and lasted until the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front , a coalition of rebel groups, overthrew the government in 1991. The war overlapped other Cold War...
private newspapers and magazines have started to appear, and this sector of the media market, despite heavy-handed regulation from the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
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...
and the ups and downs of Ethiopia's economy
Economy of Ethiopia
The economy of Ethiopia is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of gross domestic product , 43% of exports, and 85% of total employment....
, continues to grow. Despite increasing pressure from the current government at home, the much more affluent and cosmopolitan Ethiopian diaspora abroad has helped further the cause for a free press in Ethiopia, and has also catered to its many extranational communities with news services (both online and off) in both Amharic and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
When the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Ethiopian 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...
(EPRDF) came to power in 1991, one of their first acts was to give the Ethiopian media far more freedoms than it had previously experienced, ending the censorship that had prevailed for decades under both the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
and the imperial regime. Despite this liberalization, the relationship between the EPRDF and the private press has been one of deep mistrust. Clampdowns on the private press occurred regularly in the 1990s, with the arrest of dozens of journalists who were accused of publishing false information, or violating other provisions of the 1992 press law. This law allowed government authorities to detain journalists without charge. According to Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, the high point of freedom for Ethiopian media was in period leading up to the 2005 elections. Following the controversial election, when there were many instances of violence both by protesters and the authorities, many journalists were arrested, alongside member of opposition parties, and afterwards tried for "outrages against the constitution" and other crimes, a number of them in absentia. Fines were also imposed on Ethiopian publishing houses.
List of newspapers in Ethiopia
- Addis FortuneAddis FortuneAddis Fortune is a private and independent newspaper based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is reportedly the largest English Weekly in the country; its circulation is often quoted at a meager 7,500 copies per week in a country with a population 80 Million however, its rival, Capital, which is also...
- Addis ZemenAddis Zemen (newspaper)Addis Zemen is an Ethiopian Amharic newspaper. It was the official newspaper of the Worker's Party of Ethiopia.-External links:* Addis Zemen newspaper is a daily printed newspaper which is owned by the ruling party of Ethiopia.believed to be established during the 1960s also then govt owned....
- Capital EthiopiaCapital EthiopiaCAPITAL is a weekly business newspaper published and distributed by Crown Publishing Plc. The newspaper company is based in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa....
- Daily Monitor
- Ethiopian Herald
- Ethiopian ReporterEthiopian ReporterEthiopian Reporter, also known as The Reporter, is a private newspaper published in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The paper is however funded by members from Ethiopia's ruling party. It appears in both English and Amharic, and is owned by the Media Communications Centre...
External links
- Censorship in Ethiopia - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....
Press agencies and printed newspapers
- Amharic News (currently only in English)
- Ethiopian Press Agency
- Ethiopian News Agency
- Capital Ethiopia
- Addis Tribune
- Jimma Times
- Addis Admass
- Addis Fortune