Press Freedom Challenges and Opportunities of Accessing Public Information in Selected Ethiopian Commercial Media
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Date
2025-10-20
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examines the challenges and prospects of access to public information and press freedom in the private commercial print media in Ethiopia. The fundamental goal is to assess the state of media independence, legal limitation, and explore avenues for enhancing press autonomy. Employing a mixed-methods research strategy where 22 questionnaires administered for three prominent media outlets Capital, Fortune, and Reporter with consolidating qualitative interviews and media practice content analysis. The findings depict the existence of negative perception of media freedom due to censorship by the government, legal ambiguity, resource shortages, and cultural factors. The advent of digital transformation initiatives and legal tools brought potential avenues to promoting media freedom.
The study contemplates that it is essential to correct systemic problems through legal amendments, capacity building, and cultural transformation in an effort to encourage an independent and responsible media. The study recommends reforming the media laws, establishing independent regulatory bodies, enhancing journalists' professional competence, and boosting media literacy among the citizens as a condition to democratic progress.
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Press Freedom Media Independence Ethiopia Digital Media & Access to Information, , ,