SECTOR 3 3.10 The state/public broadcaster offers balanced and fair information in news and current affairs, reflecting the full spectrum of diverse views and opinions. News bulletins on the state broadcaster’s services are essentially bulletins about government activities. News about the Prime Minister is always given the top slot and protocol determines the sequence of stories. Judgment of newsworthiness is often questionable, with the news reporting extensively on school openings, new water boreholes, endless meetings or inaugurations of this and that. Success stories are given priority. The coverage does not reflect diverse views but is usually one-sided, lacks depth and falls short of journalistic ethics. Efforts to balance political news on the various players are rarely made except during election times. More air time is given to statements of officials rather than those “people are reflecting the views of the public. Much of this could be a result of lack of adequate skills in the journalistic profession, some watching – panellists argued. previously, during the Derg regime, nobody watched” There were divergent opinions among panellists on the amount of interest among the public in news aired by the state broadcaster. While some argued that only those without satellite dishes watched ETV news, others said that “people are watching – previously, during the Derg regime, nobody watched.” 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: 46 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010 2.0