About the MSI
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IREX designed the MSI to measure the strength and viability of any country's media sector. The MSI considers all the factors that contribute to a media system—the quality of journalism, effectiveness of management, the legal environment supporting freedom of the press, and more—to arrive at scores on a scale ranging between 0 and 4. These scores represent the strength of the media sector components and can be analyzed over time to chart progress (or regression) within a country. Additionally, countries or regions may be compared to one another. IREX currently conducts the MSI in 80 countries, and began studying Africa in 2006.
MSI Overview [8] | Africa [9] | Asia [10] | Europe & Eurasia [11] | Middle East & North Africa [12]
MSI Methodology [13]
Download Complete Ethiopia Chapter (PDF): 2012 [14] | 2010 [15] | 2009 [16] | 2008 [17] | 2006/7 [18]
MSI Ethiopia - 2012 Introduction
Overall Country Score: 1.25
As president, then as prime minister, Meles Zenawi led Ethiopia through its post-communist transition for 21 years, before dying of an illness a few weeks before the MSI panel convened to consider the state of the media in the country. The transition to his constitutionally mandated successor was smooth, particularly compared with the raucous election periods that cemented his authority in the 2000s.
His rule was controversial, as he earned praise for spearheading reforms that led to significant economic growth after decades of repeated famine and agricultural disasters. However, Meles also oversaw an oppressive environment for critics and tight limitations on the press. This was particularly obvious during Meles’s three-month absence from public life, during which time press speculation was rife, yet the consequences for speaking out on the topic of his legacy or succession were dire in several cases. As a case in point, IREX has withheld the list of panelists who compiled this report to protect them from retribution.
The government’s negative attitude toward the media did not change much; it has retained an oppressive attitude toward those engaged in the journalism trade, especially reporters who continue to work in a hostile environment. Some journalists are in prison, serving sentences ranging from three to seven years, while others still await trial and sentencing. Others are in exile in Europe or the United States, where they have started a loose network known as the Ethiopian Free Press Journalists Association in Exile.
The ruling party controls state media and their content. In several recent cases, private print outlets have been shut down after running afoul of officials. The government owns the country’s main printing-press operator and has recently used that control to punish papers that have been critical of it. The country’s antiterrorism law has likewise been applied to suppress opposition points of view.
The panel discussion concluded that there has not been much improvement in the country’s media situation, and a great deal needs to be done toward helping media stakeholders realize their freedoms.
Ethiopia’s scores remained close to the 2010 assessment, nearly entering the anti-free-press range. Its score for Objective 5 (supporting institutions) remains its weakest, with strict legal and practical restrictions on the operations of NGOs, infrastructure and equipment issues, and limited professional and trade associations.
Due to the oppressive political environment, panelists for Ethiopia agreed to participate only on condition of anonymity.