The free press is a cornerstone of democracy. People have a
need to know. Journalists have a right to tell. A free Press, at
its best, reveals the truth. – The Newseum, Washington, DC
Africa
Ethiopia
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| IREX Score: 1.23 | [IREX Methodology] |
| {Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00} |
IREX Description:
Ethiopia's current government, led by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, continues on a course of oppressing the media, all while claiming that press freedom is growing stronger. Officials display little respect for press freedom and freedom of speech, crushing demonstrators agitating for their rights, forcing many journalists into exile, and holding others in detention for years. The media labor in an atmosphere clouded by intimidation, fear, and self-censorship. The few surviving independent voices feel forced to tread cautiously, often avoiding penning any articles that criticize the government.
Much of Ethiopia's rural population lives in what some panelists designated a "media dark zone." Electronic media, especially radio, remain the most influential (and in some cases the only) information reaching the rural areas where most Ethiopians live. However, the government controls most of Ethiopia's radio stations, as well as the sole national television station; they are expected to serve as its mouthpiece. Currently, only three independent broadcast outlets operate in the country of about 80 million people.
Although people in major cities increasingly access online new sources, predictably, Internet reliability and speed weaken outside urban areas. Watching foreign media is not a problem, provided that Internet access with the required bandwidth is available—and that the state has not blocked sources with one of its periodic cyber-blockades. Blogging is still uncommon in Ethiopia, and SMS news alerts are nonexistent.
Despite the many obstacles, some private media outlets have managed to grow, with new newspapers and new websites emerging that dare to criticize the government in their publications. In another sign of progress, some regional officials are softening their stance on providing official information to journalists.
| Freedom House Score: 78 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
| Freedom on the Net Score: 69 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
Although Ethiopia is one of Africa’s most populous countries, poor infrastructure and a government monopoly on telecommunications have significantly hindered the expansion of digital media. As a result, Ethiopia has one of the lowest rates of internet and mobile-telephone penetration on the continent. Nevertheless, dissidents both inside the country and in the diaspora have increasingly used the internet as a platform for political discussion and criticism of the regime.
| RSF Score: 49.38 | [RSF Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120} |
| Committee to Protect Journalists Description: | [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?] |
Ahead of national elections scheduled for May 2010, the ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) further curtailed the limited freedom of the country’s small number of independent newspapers. The government enacted harsh legislation that criminalized coverage of vaguely defined “terrorist” activities, and used administrative restrictions, criminal prosecutions, and imprisonments to induce self-censorship. In all, four reporters and editors were being held when CPJ conducted its annual census of imprisoned journalists on December 1.
| IFEX News: | [What is IFEX?] |
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