SECTOR 1 1.12 Media legislation evolves from meaningful consultations among state institutions, citizens and interest groups. Consultations with the public and interest groups are common before laws are passed. For example, there were several discussions held among the various stakeholders before the Charities and Societies Proclamation was enacted over a year ago. Another example is the Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation: the draft was debated for more than six years before the law was enacted in 2008, after the legislator had made several concessions as a result of the discussions held. However, some panellists doubted whether these consultations were meaningful enough to effect changes in the draft that really mattered. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 3.5 Average score for sector 1: 3.02 2 For 2009 the indicators were reviewed, amended and some new indicators such as those addressing Information Communication Technology (ICT) were added. Consequently, the comparison of some indicators of the 2005 and 2007 report is not applicable (n/a) in some instances in which the indicator is new or has been amended. Evidently, this has to be taken into account too, when the overall sector scores are compared. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010 23