Ethiopian Governments Management Of The Media During The Ethio-eritrean War 1998-2000

The development of journalism in Ethiopia is yet in its infancy. However, Ethiopia has arnlong tradition in journalism the first known publication Aemiro going back to the turn ofrnthe 20th century (Shimelis, 2000:7). For many people the main reasons for this are lack ofrnprofessionalism due to absence of journalism training schools, and the use of media byrnsuccessive governments as instruments of propaganda. The country guaranteed freedomrnof expression only in 1991 that led to the emergence of private press. Liberalization ofrnthe press –domestic broadcasting has not been liberalized-altered the relationship ofrnmedia and the government as many private local press became too critical to therngovernment while the government media both electronic and print remained prorngovernment. There also emerged some middle ground private press but the governmentrnputs them all in one box.rnSuch an antagonistic relationship between the government and private press was tornchange for some time when Ethiopia was at war with Eritrea in 1998-2000. Almost all thernnews papers that assume different outlook on the government joined hands with therngovernment during the war. The media served the interest of the government as they bothrnhad a shared interest of maintaining the country’s ‘national interest.’ The fact that thernmedia believed in the ‘justness’ of the war was the crucial element that had effect on thernmedia management during the War.

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