Media in Ethiopia
II
The long learning curve
By Tesfu Telahoun
This four part series on media development in Ethiopia opened
last week by cautiously lauding a noticeable resurgence of the media,
especially in light of the regress following the aftermath of the
May 2005 elections. With that established, the article lamented
the awningly empty airwaves and the equally uncrowded field of print
media in our country. The situation is aggravated by the fact that
despite the scarcity of media outlets and minimal competition, electronic
programming and newspaper content and respective production values
remain poor. Part One added a note of caution that domestic media
is at risk of losing the Ethiopian public to foreign media.
Part Two -The Long Learning Curve-explores the in-house limitations
of Ethiopian media as well as public misconceptions of the role
of media in a democratizing nation.
There can be no doubt that the seventeen years (1974-1991) of military
dictatorship retarded progress in too many areas of national life.
The limited independent media that had begun to take root during
the Haile Selasie era such as numerous magazines and Bisrate Wengel
- a gospel radio station, were either closed down by decree or default
and, in Bisrate Wongel's case - nationalized to serve the new order
of the day.
Given the obvious constraints of any newly emerging sector, Ethiopian
media since 1991 can be described as a qualified success. A success
of sorts because Ethiopian media has been resurrected to live again
yet a qualified achievement nevertheless because the media still
operates under many in-house constraints. These observations are
based on the premise that current state policy allows media activity
without undue restrictions. Understandably, this may be a controversial
issue but one which could be better addressed once the media becomes
more proficient. At that time, pressuring government to relax the
terms and conditions of any press law would be more palatable to
all concerned.
Reputation is Everything
Establishing a reputable record among the viewing and listening
audiences and readership is the most valuable asset any media can
possess. In this regard, the track record of Ethiopian media can
hardly be described as a shinning example of a promising beginning.
It is only required that we examine the reckless abandon with which
the hard won freedom of the press was abused from the very outset
(circa 1992) when Ethiopians were allowed to fully express their
thoughts. Over 100 publications in various formats proliferated
- including scores of lewd pornographic magazines and newspapers
which repelled a conservative society. That lapse in journalistic
ethics was the first sign of the dysfunctional development pattern
and akin to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Another, more serious and in many cases terminal blow was and still
is the lack of a proper understanding of the role of the private
media. Many of the so-called newspapers were openly hostile to government
to the point where the line between journalism and outright slander,
including ethno-religious incitement; blurred and disappeared amidst
the general misrepresentation of free speech by the press itself
We in the media are the privileged keepers of tremendous public
responsibility. Too often, wittingly or not, we have underestimated
the power of the microphone/ pen. Let us not forget that the Ethiopian
public is a gullible audience. Why, even as recently as 34 years
ago, many of our parents thought Haile- sellassie was descended
of God and possessed divinity. Former society accepted without reservation
and believed firmly as truth, the dogma of the ruling classes amid
the general feudalism for two thousand years.
When formal media began in the early 1920s, it was against the backdrop
of a servile and cowed society.
The decades of military misrule enforced the society's natural tendency
to swallow whole whatever was thrown at it. The fervor with which
hundreds of thousands applauded Marxism Leninism and the New Ethiopia
as espoused by Serto Ader (WPE/Derg organ), sister Addis Zemen and
other sychoophantic state publications, was no less enthusiastic
than when they swore "Haile Selasie Yemut!"
The onset of an era of freedom of expression following the EPRDF
victory in 1991 is in retrospect, similar to a starving person (Ethiopia)
gorging on a full course meal, (proliferation of new media) a sure
recipe for gastric disaster and even terminal overdose. The public
and flooded with a plethora of competing print media and it could
logically have been expected that a discerning culture of reading
would develop. Unfortunately, a vast majority of the new press and
public was caught up in a maelstrom - a sort 22 situation. Conventional
wisdom of the period was so distorted that somehow the perception
grew that state media were on 'that' side and quite naturally, therefore,
private media must by necessity be anti-government. To oppose was
what the reading public wanted and what too many publications saw
as their raison d'etre.
Next week- The long learning curve continues
The new improved Bush
By Tesfu Telahoun
The scion of a wealthy and powerful dynasty, the future president
experienced his first born-again moment at 40 years of age when
the hellraiser Texan playboy went on the wagon, persevered and has
not fallen off since. The second is now in progress.
Fast forward through the first years of the 21st century and inarguably,
George Bush is the most controversial U.S. president since Richard
Nixon and Harry S.Truman -even shall we dare say, of history?
He is viscerally loathed by his detractors as he is idolized by
his ardent admirers. There is no equivocation of position when one
is asked to express opinions about the most powerful human on the
planet. People know clearly how they feel about President Bush-who
has now entered the so-called "lame duck" phase of his
second term.
For the last seven years and especially since 9/11; Bush, his party
and the U.S. in general, have had to go through difficult times.
Many U.S. and nearly all world media, incensed at the unilateral
declaration by the U.S. of the "war on terror" have made
Bush the prime target of diatribes in editorials from Amman to Antananrivo
and Muscat to Moscow.
At long last however, as the world's attention focuses ever more
on the U.S. elections, good news - a rare commodity in the Bush
presidency, is plentiful and the beleagured president is taking
full advantage. What has occurred to foster this political rebirth
Bush is enjoying at the moment? Several factors come to mind but
Iraq, the Middle East and the election of conservative leaders in
Europe stand out.
IRAQ is working
Approval ratings for President Bush are the most erratic of any
world leader. Following 9/11, Bush enjoyed an approval rating of
90 percent (the highest of any president in U.S.- history) but has
also wallowed in the low twenties with a disapproval rating of over
65%; also a record since Nixon of Watergate infamy.
International regard for the president was dealt a near fatal blow
by the invasion of Iraq as the traditional western allies fell out.
It plummeted even further when the U.S. led coalition failed to
discover Saddam's WMDs -the objective of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
A the text book perfect invasion succeeded in toppling a loathed
dictator but the nation he had kept together with barbaric cruelty
began to fall apart. Donald Rumsfeld's 'Shock and Awe 'strategy
liberated Iraq but his post invasion planning was hardly worth the
name. Very quickly it became too clear that although it is possible
to conquer a fairly large nation with just 130,000 troops, occupying
it with any reasonable degree of pacification proved to be a difficult
if not impossible task.
Enter AQI -(Al- Queada in Iraq) which skillfully and mercilessly
stepped into the vacuum. AQI , gambling on the fierce patriotism
of Iraqi's; who were and are fully justified in resisting foreign
occupation, exploited the situation by wanton acts of mass murder,
cunningly devised to widen long suppressed ethnic and sectarian
division. AQI brought untold suffering and misery to a nation that
has already endured nearly three decades of Baathist excess.
The international community became innured to the appalling bloodshed
- choosing to callously feed off news of the horrific carnage and
of course, point a fingur at the world's scapegoat (U.S.) personified
(they wouldn't use that word) by George Walker Bush.
The turning point
A little over a year ago, (some say as early as the elimination
of Jordanese born mass killer Al-Zarquawi) the unholy alliance among
the disparate parts of the insurgency began to crack.
This situation was also strengthened by a unilateral declaration
of a cessation of hostilities on coalition forces by the powerful
Shitte milita of cleric Mukhtadar al Sadr.
The patriotic insurgency over the last eight months has almost completely
eliminated AQI from their ranks as they even co-operate on joint
search and destroy operations with coalition forces.
Baghdad is returning to a semblance of normality. Land and house
prices are rising as refugees begin to trickle then rush back home.
(Continues next week)
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