MEDIA IN ETHIOPIA: The beginning, developments and challenges ---------------------------------

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MEDIA IN ETHIOPIA The beginning, developments
and challenges---------------------------------

• By Tadesse Zinaye

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HISTORY---print

• The history of media sector in Ethiopia dates
  back more than a century.
• Le Semeur dEthiopie (1905-1911) and Aimero
  (1902-1903) are widely considered as the original
  news papers
• Some historical evidences suggests that the hand
  written sheet produced by Blata Gebre Egziabhere
  around 1900 probably preceded both of the above
  papers.

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History---print

• Emperor Minilik, who is the founder of modern
  Ethiopia, played a significant role in
  establishing diplomatic relations with European
  states. This helped many foreigners to establish
  printing presses in the capital city, Addis
  Ababa. The starting of Minilik II School, first
  in the country had its share of increasing the
  literates among the people to enjoy the printed
  word.

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HISTORY---print

• Haile Selassie I evinced interest in the
  establishment of a printing press as well as the
  publication of newspapers and educational
  materials.
• During World War I, with the help of the allied
  powers, he disseminated the news to counter the
  German propaganda through an Amharic newspaper
  called Yetor Wore War News.

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HISTORY---print

• Berhanena Selam an Amharic newspaper was also
  founded in 1923 with its circulation to 500
  copies and first monthly magazine consisting
  different European Languages including an Amharic
  section was founded by Mr. Weizinger.
• Until the invasion of Italy, many small hand
  presses were continued to be imported from
  various countries of Europe. The government press
  published at least 30 books in Amharic.

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HISTORY---print

• L Ethiopie Commericale a French business
  weekly, was established in 1932. In 1935 two
  newspapers were established, a quarterly Kasate
  Birhan (The Light Giver) and a political weekly
  Atibiya Kokeb (The Morning Star) but short-lived
  only for brief period.

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History---print

• During the Italian invasion the printing
  facilities were put disordered and it took some
  time to restart it after liberation .
• However, after taking some shape a number of
  weeklies, monthlies and periodicals stared being
  published in Addis Ababa and in Asmara.
• News papers such as Addis Zemen,Sendek Alamachen
  were launched in 1941.
• Publication of other popular two papers
  (Ethiopian Herald and Ye zareyito Ethiopia) was
  started in the subsequent years.
• At this point the traditional means of message
  dissemination to the masses, drum biting and
  verbal shouting, totally replaced by news papers.
  In 1942, an official Negarit Gazetha was founded.
• Until 1990s running the mass media in general
  was the responsibility and function of the
  government.

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History---radio

• The first provisional radio station was
  inaugurated in 1933 in a contract signed with an
  Italian Company.
• The Italians handed over the installation , but
  retrieved it soon following the Italian invasion
  of Ethiopia in 1936.
• Short wave broadcasting was resumed in 1941 and
  then in the subsequent years Radio Ethiopia
  operated from three locations Addis Ababa,Harar
  and Asmara- broadcast in six languages
• The World federation of Lutheran Churches
  broadcaster, Radio Voice of the Gospel aired
  religious and entertaining materials.

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History ---radio

• Radio Ethiopia, which now has both national and
  external services broadcast its programs in eight
  vernacular languages (English, French and Arabic
  ).
• Radio Fana in its short wave and medium wave
  programs putting news and various educational and
  entertaining programs which has the reach of all
  over the country. Fanas FM 98.1 was also
  launched in March 2007 putting different news and
  programs to the audience of Addis and surrounding
  areas.
• Educational Media Agency owned by Ministry of
  education broadcasts educational programs in more
  than 15 languages and in the English language for
  high school students.

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History---radio

• Before 1991, there were no regional broadcast
  media and still now there is no television
  station. However, there are now more than three
  regional radio stations. These include
• Amhara regional radio station located in Bahar
  Dar
• SNNP regional radio station located in Awassa
• Dire Dawa FM
• Dimtse Woyane radio station based in Mekele

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History---TV

• Television broadcasting in Ethiopia begun in the
  early 1960s.
• An educational TV broadcasting project was
  initiated in 1965,and by 1971 there were five
  programs covering a range of topics for students
  up to grade eight. It gradually expanded in to
  adult education and to cover the whole of the
  country in 1981.
• Since 1991,Ethiopian Television (ETV) broadcasts
  its programs in three vernacular languages and
  English. ETV also has started additional channel
  known as ETV2.At the start of this channel TV
  Africa was broadcasting its programs to Addis and
  its surrounding audience. But, currently is
  transmitting programs prepared by Addis Ababa
  city media agency.

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About content presentation

• Both in print, Radio and Television during the
  monarchy era were putting news and programs
  emanated from the center. The lives and
  activities of the rulers of the time were
  prioritized and emphasized in news coverage. The
  participation of the larger audience was not
  given appropriate attention
• Though, the focus of both of them is on the did
  of the monarchy's activities , the messages
  delivered are more of urbanized
• During the Dergs regime the content provided by
  both media were political oriented and
  propagandistic in nature.

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Content---2

• During both the monarchy and Derg regimes- the
  media control is totally in the hands of the
  government ,and also the flow of information is
  checked and controlled by the governments of each
  period.

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ADVENT OF FM IN ETHIOPIA

• FM broadcasting was launched for the first time
  in the country by radio Ethiopia (2000).
• The launch of this FM programs opened the
  airwaves in that it started interactive radio by
  establishing live phone-in productions. These
  programs engaged the audience in discussions over
  significant issues and problems of the public.
• The Addis Ababa city administration has started
  FM Radio broadcasting in the beginning of 2006
  targeting Addis audience
• Radio Fana also currently launched its FM
  transmission .
• Both stations focus on social, business and
  trade, political, sports, traffic etc. issues.
• Some other two privet owners (Zami and Adey)
  secured their license and currently are airing
  their programs by leasing air time from radio
  Ethiopia.

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Content Quality

• Media in Ethiopia more or less even though they
  are equipping themselves with modern facilities
• There is lack of trained media writers, editors,
  broadcasters
• Lack of professionalism
• Geographical reach is large (radio more than
  70,television more than 50) but audience reach
  is by large urban focused, especially FM
  broadcastings, but there is no available research
  out put.

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Technology

• How much does it affected printing and
  broadcasting ?
• Are we coping up with the digital facilities and
  the opportunity it provided in the media sector?

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WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

• How we are following the process and the effect
  of technological convergence?
• In some countries even privet FM stations went up
  to using Satellite transmission facilities. They
  are doing this probably to widen the reception
  and to improve voice quality of transmissions.
• Is this situation might be a challenge in the
  future to our broadcasters?
• Providing and getting license to use the air
  wave enable the audience to get better choice,
  and also can contribute for transparency in
  governance and accountability.
• Circulation of print out puts is more of
  traditional one and almost remained in the major
  cities only
• Quality of content, professionalism,
  understandeing perfectly the environment etc all
  are challenges

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What does----2

• Ethiopian mass media are entirely urban based.
  The location of the stations and their content by
  and large is urban oriented and government
  activities focused . The participation of the
  larger audience, especially the rural people
  participation is not formulated based on known or
  contextualized communication models.

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What does---3

• An analysis or understanding of our media
  scenario must incorporate the following basic
  elements of journalistic process
• The communicator
• The content
• The audience
• The technology of communication

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FINALLY

• Very few points are forwarded to you with the aim
  to trigger discussion and interaction.
• THANK YOU