Ethiopia: Reforms Transformed Media, Says Ethiopian Media Authority Director-General

What the report says

Ethiopian Media Authority Director-General Haimanot Zeleke said recent government reforms have reshaped Ethiopia’s media sector by easing licensing hurdles, widening access and increasing the range of outlets and content, according to the Ethiopian News Agency report published by AllAfrica. She described the changes as part of a broader effort to make the media environment more open and competitive, while also emphasizing that greater freedom should be matched by professional responsibility and respect for the law.

The ENA interview said the Authority has paired liberalization with capacity-building measures, including training through the Ethiopian Media Excellence Center for journalists from different outlets. Haimanot said these efforts are intended to improve reporting standards, strengthen professional competence and help media serve the public more effectively. She also said content monitoring is being used alongside expansion efforts to improve the quality and reliability of information.

Haimanot additionally pointed to challenges linked to the digital era, including false information and hate speech, saying the Authority is working with relevant bodies to address them. Looking ahead, she said support will continue for media institutions that operate within ethical and legal rules, and that the broader goal is to help the media act as a bridge between citizens and government. The report places these remarks in Addis Ababa and frames them within Ethiopia’s continuing media and democratic reform process.