By Andualem Sisay
After the world celebrated three days ago, Ethiopian media professionals and media owners today (May 6, 2010) observed the world Press Freedom day by conducting a day-long workshop at the Hilton Addis.

The event gathered journalists both from private and state media and invited guests such as parliamentarians, scholars and representatives of civil society and associations. Papers that show both the good and bad sides of Ethiopian press situation are presented at the workshop.

Even though Ethiopian constitutions and press laws guarantee press freedom, other rules and laws such as anti-terrorist and election coverage rules are eroding the press freedom of the country, according to Amare Aregawi, General Manager of The Reporter and Amharic Reporter newspapers.
In his paper entitled, “The Freedom of Information: The Right to Know”, Amare indicated that both the government and private press in Ethiopia are performing below their potential and expectations.


He also criticized the opposition party for failing to raise the issue of press freedom during election campaigns. Some international groups are also criticized by Amare for playing unconstructive role for the development of press freedom in Ethiopia.

Shimeles Kemal of Government Communications Affairs Office has also presented a paper entitled, “The Status of Freedom: The Mass Media and Access to Information law”.
The fact that the private press started opposing the press law from its very beginning shows the non-constructive roles of the private press to the development of the press freedom in the country.

Now things are getting better as the private press and the government are getting are in constructive engagement in relations to press freedom and freedom of expression.

It is recalled that two recent reports of the Human Rights Watch and State Department of the United States Government have indicated that press freedom, which is one component of the human rights is in danger in Ethiopia.

March 24, 2010 Human Rights Watch statement, http://www.hrw.org/en/new...sing-ahead-may-elections, and March 11, 2010 Annual US State Department Report http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/af/135953.htm indicated that press freedom and basic human rights in Ethiopia are in danger.

Fridrich Ebert Stiftung, the United Nations Human Rights, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government Communications Affairs Office are listed on a poster as sponsors of the event.

World Press Freedom Day is celebrated across the globe every May 3rd, representing an opportunity to commemorate the fundamental principles of press freedom and to pay solemn tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

According to the information obtained from its official website, UNESCO’s celebration of World Press Freedom Day 2010 will highlight the importance of freedom of information as an integral part of freedom of expression and its contribution to democratic governance.


“It will foster reflection and exchange of ideas on freedom of information to advance empowerment, transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption, as well as on the key obstacles that the effective exercise of the right to know faces in today’s digitalized world,” the statement reads.