National Media Consultative Forum Underway in Presence of PM Abiy Ahmed

Addis Ababa, May 7, 2026 —The national consultative forum titled "Media Progress for Narrative Building" has officially commenced in the presence of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today.

Speaking at the consultative forum, Ethiopian Media Authority Director-General Haymanot Zeleke said media institutions had many shortcomings before the reform.

Among the shortcomings included policy and framework, organizational, institutional as well as professional ethics.

 

The reform government has implemented profound media reforms to address these shortcomings, the Director-General noted.

 Among the changes introduced by the reform are the establishments of a media authority accountable to the House of People's Representatives, the creation of a system of mutual regulation of the media, and the expansion of professional associations that allow the sector to regulate itself.

These reforms have been accompanied by the following numerical achievements, the Director-General stated.

‎The number of media outlets has increased from 122 to 310; radio stations from 52 to 126; television stations from 25 to 128.

 

‎The Director-General pointed out that these and the increase of 35 foreign media outlets and 50 local ones are tangible examples of the success of the Ethiopian media ecosystem in creating inclusiveness.

One of the hallmark achievements of Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms is the strengthening of democratic institutions to serve as authentic pillars of a democratic system, with the media sector being a primary example of this transformation.