Reflections on Press Freedom in Pre- and Post-reform Ethiopia: A Practitioners’ Perspective

Abstract

Press freedom is significant for the development of democracy. Ethiopia has recognized freedom of press in the FDRE Constitution and other press regulations. This study assessed the pre-reform situation of press freedom in Ethiopia and post-reform or the period after the coming of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to power. We held one-on-one in-depth interviews with twelve purposively selected media practitioners working for both Government and privately-owned media based on their experience of doing journalism during pre-reform as well as post-reform era. The views of media practitioners were analyzed qualitatively. The study's findings revealed that the pre-reform press environment was one marked by repressive laws, government interventions, lack of professionalism, and weak financial capacity of media institutions.  In the post-reform context, the status quo was changed and press freedom was better protected in comparative terms though there are challenges that need to be resolved. The study recommends that journalists should work under the existing legal framework, while of course should work to improve them, not to make their relationship with the Government inimical.

Keywords: Press Freedom, post-reform Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, Media Practitioners, Democracy

DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/100-01

Publication date: January 31^st 2022