The Ethiopian Media Council (EMC) is advocating for equitable distribution of commercial advertising (ad) revenue to ensure the financial independence of independent media institutions in the country, highlighting a significant imbalance in resource allocation. The EMC emphasizes that while state-controlled media receive over five billion birr annually, independent media outlets struggle for financial survival and lack adequate support. This disparity is viewed as politically motivated, hindering healthy competition and exacerbating media polarization.
Representing numerous media institutions and thousands of industry professionals, the EMC recently presented its agenda for Ethiopian media institutions and journalists to be considered in the national dialogue process. This agenda is the result of extensive research, collaboration, and data collection involving media professionals, academia, civil society organizations, and international partners.
According to Amare Aregawi, Chairperson of the EMC, the agenda reflects a thorough assessment of key challenges and biases within the Ethiopian media landscape. The council has identified 79 key issues, narrowing them down to 19 priority topics and ultimately submitting six major media agendas to the National Dialogue Commission (NDC).
Financial sustainability and advertising fairness are central to the EMC’s proposals, aiming to eliminate unfair ad practices and enable equitable resource allocation and financing for media operations. This reform is expected to foster healthy information competition and fair dissemination, contributing to national consensus.
Another key issue presented to the National Dialogue Commission is “Public Media Management.” The EMC argues that public funds should not be used in ways that disadvantage private media or undermine fair competition. They also raised concerns about regional disparities and governance issues within public media, which they say hinder national consensus.
The NDC, established to address Ethiopia’s deep-rooted socio-political challenges and promote reconciliation, unity, and lasting peace, is seen as a vital platform for these discussions. The media is expected to play a crucial role in promoting national consultations and delivering information to the public.
Additional agenda items submitted to the Commission include issues related to freedom of information, the right to access and disseminate information, gender equality and the status of female journalists, and digital transformation and media infrastructure.
