The Ethiopian Media Council has been formally recognised as an independent civil society organisation under the amended CSO proclamation, The Reporter’s Brook Abdu reported. The council was formed at a 12 January 2016 general assembly at the UN Economic Commission for Africa hall in Addis Ababa, but it could not register under the old law’s narrow CSO categories.
Registration took 42 weeks under the new rules. Membership rose from 19 to 29 publishers, broadcasters, and media associations during that wait. In a statement to the paper, the council said it must help journalism meet professional and legal standards and must push back against improper government pressure on the press.
Amare Aregawi, general manager of The Reporter’s English and Amharic papers, was named chair of the executive committee. Meaza Birru, co-owner of Sheger FM, was named deputy chair.
Formal legal status gives the self-regulatory body a clearer footing to train journalists and to speak for press freedom at a time when Ethiopia’s media landscape was expanding after years of tight control.
Sources: The Reporter