As a result of major structural changes there have been remarkable improvements on ERTA stations since the middle of 2010 in regard to presentation and packaging as well as coverage of a wider variety of issues. New programme structures and new formats have been introduced, interesting and creative documentaries are being offered. Although the legal basis for the development of private and community broadcasting seems in place, the actual processes to make this happen are very slow. Some panelists said licensing of new broadcasters could only be done gradually, in step with the gradual democratisation of the country. Others argued that more services could contribute to the speeding up of democratisation. Presently, three FM radio stations are privately owned and another is close to the ruling party. The number of community based radios now stands at nine. There is no private TV station yet. The print media in Ethiopia is characterised by very low circulation figures due to a number of factors: the poor culture of reading among the general public, illiteracy, the cost of newsprint, distribution problems, high copy prices and crippling taxation. Overall, the quality of the content of the media in Ethiopia needs improvement. The principle of fairness in reporting is often compromised by almost all media, be they private or state. The tendency is to be either pro or against the government. Investigative journalism is rare. While the state media are in the business of image building for the government and thus publish mainly “positive” stories, there is also very little investigate reporting in the private media. To improve standards in the media, professionals from both public and private media decided in 2009 to set up a voluntary media council. The council is to develop a code of ethics and establish a mechanism for members of the public to lodge complaints against the media in cases where they feel they have been treated unfairly or a story was inaccurate. This move is regarded as a positive sign of diminishing polarisation in the media. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ETHIOPIA 2010 7