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Ethiopiaâs Media Fail to Spark Debate, Educate Voters, Say Observers

   Douglas Mpuga 19 May 2010

   Ethiopians  go  to  the  polls  this  week-end  amid  concern  by some
   activists  that without a free media the parliamentary election cannot
   be  free  and  fair.  They  say  even  though  Ethiopiaâs constitution
   guarantees  press  freedom,  anti-terrorist  laws  and  election rules
   seriously curtail the flow of information.

   âThe  media  in  Ethiopia  is  not  free at all,â said Tom Rhodes, the
   program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an
   independent, non-governmental organization that promotes press freedom
   by defending the rights of journalists to report the news without fear
   of reprisal.

   He  said  in  Ethiopia any critical publication âbroadcast or print is
   out  of the question, and it appears the election coverage is going to
   be biased.â

   The  media  as  a  fourth  estate,  he  said,  âhas a stake within the
   governmental process, and it influences public opinion.

   âWhen you take these factors into account, I canât imagine how you can
   have  really  a  free  and fair election without an open media that is
   allowed  to  openly  interview  and encourage debate among the various
   candidates,â he said.

   Rhodes   attributed   the   lack  of  press  freedom  in  Ethiopia  to
   intimidation  and  harassment  of  the independent media, a factor, he
   said, that has led to a vacuum in critical reporting.

   âIn  the broadcast media (radio and television), there is simply isnât
   any  critical  or  opposition,  so  you get only the state-run view of
   political events in the country,â he added.

   Rhodes   lamented   the   lack  of  moderate,  unbiased,  professional
   journalism  in  the country:Â  âThere is a gap in critical reporting.Â
   There  are the pro-government publications and on the extreme end, the
   opposition commentary, which isnât really helpful.â

   He  said  CPJ has tried to advocate and consult with the government of
   Ethiopia  and  to publicize the organizationsâ concerns on the lack of
   media freedom.

   âWe  push  for  more  press  freedom within the country and help those
   journalists  who  feel  they are threatened and intimidated by various
   actors  within  the  country,  so  that  they can have the courage and
   defense to continue reporting,â he said.

   âWe  can all do something,â he said.  âWe can publicize the fact that
   we  donât  feel  the  election  coverage  will be necessarily fair and
   advocate for more press freedom. 

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