A Political History of the Private Press in Democratic Ethiopia 1991–2007
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Date
2008-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
1991 was the end of the dictatorial Marxist military regime (1974-91); transforming Ethiopia from a one party/one press regime to a multiparty/multi-press state, but the independent press began its mission as a sworn enemy of the government. There was a huge lack of professionalism and ethical standards of journalism accompanied by abuses of freedom of the press and expression by the newborn independent press and strong attacks on the new democratic government. In many instances it was difficult to name the press independent as it acted as a political opposition with a massive practice of advocacy journalism and sensationalism.
This attempt on a political history of the private press in democratic Ethiopia 1991–2007 tries to analyze the role of the independent press in bringing about sustainable democratic functions serving as a catalyst to multipartyism and democracy as an independent institution. The research analysed relevant research reports and books to understand the Sub-Saharan African and Ethiopian political and media scenario and see the different views regarding the landscape of Ethiopian political communication. Moreover, the role of the independent press in the new multiparty democratic system was assessed through in-depth interviews and informal talks held with key resource persons.
The study concludes that the Ethiopian independent press failed to play its role as an independent institution in the new system as it acted irresponsibly and unprofessionally against internationally accepted ethical and professional yardsticks of journalism creating a negative state-press relation where one considers the other as an arch enemy. The tension reached its peak in the post-election period of the 2005 national elections. In the absence of an organized self-regulatory body of the press, the Ethiopian government took advantage of the unprofessional and unethical practices and started to take legal and other measures against the press to make it behave responsibly leading to the suppression of the press once again by the government and harming the survival, excellence and advance of the independent press and its contribution for democracy.
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Private Press