Independent’ Journalist and Ethiopian Media

Mixing public interest with self-interest and the struggle for democracy

by Teshome Debalke

In the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia, independent journalist have responsibility to be the eyes and the ears of the public. More so, in a country ruled by authoritarian regimes like Ethiopia that controls public institutions and airwaves. Therefore,  entertaining anything good can come out of the ruling regime is offensive; ultimately prolong undemocratic rule and the associated atrocity and corruption. 

At the meantime, standing up for the public interest is what distinguishes independent journalist and Media from the propaganda mill of the regime and interest groups. Therefore, casually neglected that responsibility is counter productive and ultimately damages the very public under tyrannical rule..

The 90 million people in Ethiopia are under ethnic tyranny and, there is an on going democratic struggle to get rid of the regime. Therefore, business as the usual or the same old slash and burn politics is unacceptable, especially when it comes to the independent journalist and Media. It doesn’t serve the interest of the public nor the democratic movement.

Thus, it is appropriate to ask; what is the role of independent journalists and the Media in the democratic struggle in Ethiopia? What does independent means and from what?  How do we evaluate them;  against the propaganda mills of the regime or on public interest?  If not, who should evaluate  them? Is the independent journalist and the media are only against the self serving messengers of the regime in power or the vanguard of public interest from all? What constitute independent news? Is news coming from the regime’s propaganda mills considered worthy of news to use? If yes,  what is the safeguard from promoting propaganda as news?

Many more questions can be raised to sort out the fact from fiction coming from different directions, particularly from the propaganda mills of the ruling regime.

Given the established standard of journalist and the Media in the free world, can we hold Ethiopian independent journalist and Media institutions by the same standard? If not, can they be considered credible and worth to protect the public interest on the prevailing facts?  What distinguish them from the propaganda mill of the ruling regime besides pretending to oppose the regime?

All the above questions raises more question than answers. But, whether we like it or not, ultimately not only independent journalists have to be the vanguard of the public interest everyone have to submit for the public interest, the people. This seems to be the contestation among many; missing the public interest with something else.

What is the public interest means? Is it:

1. Freeing public institutions from the jaw of tyranny and any other interest group?
2. Promoting democratic institutions, including the free Media and defending them from encroachment of the tyranny?
3. Raising the public interest from the bottom up than the top down?
4. Exposing crimes on the public interest by the regime and interest groups?
5. Following up on individuals and groups that violate the public’s interest? etc

These are some key areas independent journalist and Media institutions expected to promote as their primary goal to protect the public interest regardless of their personal agenda.

Therefore, if the ultimate test of independent journalist and Media institutions is raising the public interest above anything by exposing the abuse of power wherever they may be, can we say Ethiopian independent journalist and Medias are fulfilling their responsibility of raising the public interest above anything else from the crime of the regime and other interest groups?

For example, there are a dozen of public and private institutions that are the cause of  the main injustice, atrocities and corruption that left the people of Ethiopia endure injustice, violation of their rights and economic wellbeing for too long.

For instance, The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice that is supposedly responsible to administer justice in country. But, as documented in the last 21 years it is the cause of injustices and the absence rule of law in the country.

The Minister, Berhan Hailu,  like hispredecessors oversaw the 1000s of innocent prisoners that are languishing in 100s of jails through out country. Under his leadership alone, the jails are filled with innocent Ethiopians with fabricated political charges as document by local and international organizations. Rarely, if any, independent journalist and the Media initiated an investigative reporting and followed up on the transgression of the Minster and his subordinates that are responsible of  many injustices on the people of Ethiopia.

Likewise, in every Ministry and public as well as private Agencies similar injustice occurs with little investigative reporting or follow up.

In the economic front, corrupt practices by the ruling regime and its affiliates are rampant. Individuals affiliated with the regime’s business interest are roaming the streets in Ethiopia, African countries, North America and Europe where most of the exiled independent journalist operate. It is alleged 100s of officials and affiliates of the regime own businesses and launder money.  But, rarely investigative reporting and follow up initiated to expose them on behalf of the public interest.

Therefore, the ultimate role of independent journalist and Media is to investigate and expose public and private institutions that inflect the most injustice on the liberty and wellbeing of the people by being the eyes and ears of the public

But, with the exception of few independent journalist and Medias we rarely see in-depth investigative reporting and follow up on  crimes against the public interest . Lack of resource may be one major hindrance to do extensive investigation, but collaborative work by pulling resources together is seldom seen.

Ultimately, journalist and Media institutions that champion the public interest at the grassroots above anything else would live up to their profession as true journalist and Media institutions that contribute to freedom and democracy.

Could the democratic movements or professional associations set the standard of conduct for independent journalist and the Media to better serve the public interest and help isolate the propaganda machinery of the ruling regime and interest group?

Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) become expletory example of what independent journalism and Media can do in the public interest. For that reason alone is where the regime and affiliated interest group undermine its effort in behalf of the regime’s and their own interest to keep the public in the dark and continue their atrocity and corruption.

Some even go as far as claiming neutrality in the mist of the regime’s atrocity and corruption but continue to post news  coming from the regime propaganda mills of the regime but fail to do the same from independent journalist and media. Can independent journalist and media claim neutrality from the crime of the regime and live up to their profession?

Therefore, it is important for the public to understand the resource required to do investigative reporting and support independent journalist and Media that advance the public interest.

What ever anyone does, it boils down we either stand for public interest or the regime and affiliate’s interest, there is no gray area. The sooner the public sort out the difference the sooner Ethiopians march to freedom.