Sheger Tribune

Ethiopian State Media Journalists Suffer from Self-censorship

State media journalists in Ethiopia are afraid of reporting on the weaknesses of executive organs as a result of self-censorship, complained Members of the Parliament (MPs).

This is indicated yesterday (July 14, 2011) during a discussion forum between representatives of different media and Members of the Parliament (MPs) who represent different standing committees at the parliament.

The MPs noted that state media, especially the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) is not transmitting to the public about the weaknesses of the executive organs (ministries, authorities and agencies) which are identified by the standing committees because it is afraid of the executives.  
“Whenever we meet some folks, they always teeth at us as if we are not worthy and do nothing at the parliament, except raising our hands to approve laws,” said one angry MP.

“You, state media journalists, don’t have the moral and professional integrity, like doctors and other professionals. Yon only report good parts of the executive organs,” he said adding that he never expects any improvements from ERTA in the future. The MP rather suggested that the best solution for the parliament is to have its own media, like some countries such as India.

Shimels Kemal, State Minister at the Office of Government Communication Affairs on his part indicated that failure of the state media to report on weakness of the executive organs, which are identified by different standing committees of the parliament, is indirectly promoting the idea of some people who criticize Ethiopian parliament as a rubber stamp.

“As far as I know there is no law that prohibits the media from reporting weaknesses of executive organs,” said Shimels, who also serve as board member of Ethiopian Press Agency, publisher of The Ethiopian Herald, Addis Zemen newspapers, among others.

“Rather, focus of the government is creating credible media through which it can transmit its message to the public. I think the problem arises from self-censorship of the journalists who snatch and run keynote addresses from workshops,” he said. According to Shimels the self-censorship may arise from lack of competence and confidence on the issue and it is a means of avoiding the consequence that comes as a result.

Contrary to the state minister’s view one representative of the media argued the reason why journalists do not report on weakness of executive organs is because they are afraid of them. “Reporting on weaknesses of executive bodies may have its own undesired consequences. There has to be a law that protects the journalists from the punishment that may arise from the executives if we want the journalists to report on the weaknesses,” he said.

According to the paper presented on the discussion forum by Alkadir Ibrahim, some executive organs in Ethiopia do not want the media to report about their weaknesses which are identified by standing committees of the parliament.

Even though it is intensified in state media journalists and editors, the private media in Ethiopia also exercise some level of self-censorship, according to a survey made by IREX in 2009 . Media experts consider all types of self-censorship as a great danger for the development of professional journalism.

At the conclusion of the two days discussion, both sides (the media representatives and MPs agreed to improve their relationship and address the public activities of the parliament in impartially in different media outlets.  “We need to have a strong relation in order to present the activities of the parliament to the public,” said the House Speaker, Abadulla Gemeda, closing the meeting this afternoon.  

REPORTED BY NEW BUSINESS ETHIOPIA REPORTER