Evolving Ethiopian Media Landscape Sets Example, Journalist Hiba

Addis  Ababa  May  02//2019  Ethiopian media landscape has greatly evolved over the past year and other African countries can learn from that, Al Jazeera reporter Hiba Morgan said.

During the opening of the Press Freedom Day, Hiba told ENA that there is significant progress in the media such as more freedom, no journalists in jail which she said is ‘more important’.

"It sets an example for other leaders to let them know that the eyes are on them they should be careful how they treat journalists and their media landscape generally whether they improve it or degrade it," she articulated.

Stating that governments are measured on how they treat journalists freedom in the coverage's of anti-corruption and anti-oppression, Hiba said and noted "African countries has a lot to learn from Ethiopian media landscape evolving over the past year.

Moreover, she stressed that "African countries can learn that censoring journalists and arresting them does not pay off and this is the time that we need our journalists out of prison."

She added that the move to free the media landscape in Ethiopia and freeing imprisoned journalists led the country to host the World Press Freedom Day in the African soil for the second time.

African Union Commission Communication Head, Wynne Musabayana, lauded Ethiopia saying "we are very proud in terms of the progress that has been made."

Ethiopia has climbed 40 places up the press freedom ladder, she said and added "this is a remarkable progress over a few years."

Musabayana pointed out those African countries should learn from each other and exchange experience such as the progress in Ethiopian media landscape.