SECTOR 2

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: 			

1.5

2.4
The editorial independence of print media
published by a public authority is protected adequately
against undue political interference.
Article 29 (5) of the constitution says: “Any media financed
by or under the control of the State shall be operated in a
manner ensuring its capacity to entertain diversity in the
expression of opinion”.

“a critical piece
once in a blue
moon”

Editorial policies of state-owned media also claim editorial
independence. The reality, however, seems to be different.
The end product shows that “there is a problem”: the state
outlets are obviously used by government to transmit its messages only – with,
since the last election in May 2010, “a critical piece once in a blue moon”, as one
panellist put it.
Some members of the panel, however, felt that guidance from the government
for public media was justified and that this should not be taken as undue political
interference.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010

29

Select target paragraph3