My Opinion | Oct 05,2024
In step, Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi (far right) marches from the podium with new board members of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation after swearing them in last Thursday, December 24, 2020. Opposition leaders Yeshewase Asefa (centre right) and Aregawi Berhe (PhD) (far left); and Alemu Seme (PhD), a senior offical of Prosperity Party, took their oath after MPs approved the nominations made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD).As new additions to the eight-person board, their appointment was approved without much contention. The only inquiry fielded was to the continued board membership of Kamia Junedi, whose role as a legislator was called into question as a possible conflict of interest. Tagesse Chafo, the speaker of parliament, responded that the session hardly concerns her given that she has been on the board since 2018.
There have long been calls to make state media institutions independent of political interference, which influenced the appointment of opposition figures such as Merara Gudina (Prof.). The general media landscape has further been criticised for toeing the state line through the political control of public media outlets, as well as the quashing of institutions deemed to be critical. Over 240 websites and news channels used to be blocked before restrictions were lifted in 2018. The country was also among the worst jailers of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), until none were reported to be behind bars in 2018.
Reforms in that year also brought the start of long sought amendment processes to the media law, which earlier this month passed the Council of Ministers. It would give legal identity to internet-based media outlets and prohibits remanding a person who is accused of violating the media law for further investigation.
Still, the current administration has been accused of falling into old habits in transparency and media independence. Several internet outages have occurred, including one that covered the entire country last July, while a hate speech law was legislated. There have been seven journalists behind bars in 2020, according to the CPJ.
PUBLISHED ON
Dec 26,2020 [ VOL
21 , NO
1078]
My Opinion | Oct 05,2024
Viewpoints | May 25,2024
Fortune News | Jun 29,2024
Fortune News | Jun 22,2024
Commentaries | Oct 12,2019
Commentaries | Sep 21,2019
Radar | Jul 13,2025
My Opinion | Sep 28,2024
Commentaries | Oct 05,2019
Fortune News | Feb 08,2020
Dec 22 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Charged with transforming colossal state-owned enterprises into modern and competitiv...
Aug 18 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Although predictable Yonas Zerihun's job in the ride-hailing service is not immune to...
Jul 28 , 2024 . By TIZITA SHEWAFERAW
Unhabitual, perhaps too many, Samuel Gebreyohannes, 38, used to occasionally enjoy a couple of beers at breakfast. However, he recently swit...
Jul 13 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
Investors who rely on tractors, trucks, and field vehicles for commuting, transporting commodities, and f...
Jul 12 , 2025
Political leaders and their policy advisors often promise great leaps forward, yet th...
Jul 5 , 2025
Six years ago, Ethiopia was the darling of international liberal commentators. A year...
Jun 28 , 2025
Meseret Damtie, the assertive auditor general, has never been shy about naming names...
Jun 21 , 2025
A well-worn adage says, “Budget is not destiny, but it is direction.” Examining t...
Loading your updates...