(Addis Ababa, March 24, 2022 EMC) – The Executive members of the Ethiopian Media Council met with representatives of the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa on March 24, 2022. Conversations.
During the meeting, the Deputy Executive of the Council Ato Tamrat Hailu, briefed the Council on the establishment, organization, purpose and goal of the House.
In particular, with the support of the French Embassy, journalists from various regions of the country, in collaboration with experts from Addis Ababa University and the National Electoral Board, have been trained on Electoral Code of Conduct and Journalism Code of Conduct.
He also detailed the council’s current activities. He recalled that when the council was formed, it had 19 members and now 60 institutions have become members of the council.
He told the Embassy Representatives that the council is working on a five-year strategic plan with the support of UNESCO.
Chairman of the Council, Ato Amare Aregawi, on his part said the Council is in the final stages of establishing an arbitral tribunal.
According to Tigest Yilma, Chairperson of the General Assembly of the Council, there have been various problems in recent years. She said the council has carried out various activities as much as possible in elections, wars and the declaration of a state of emergency in our country. However, she acknowledged that the Covid 19 outbreak had caused financial and human damage to the media.
According to Ato Aderaw Genetu, a program officer for communication and information sector at UNESCO, his organization has a long-standing relationship with the Ethiopian Media Council, and in particular the Ethiopian Media Sector Coalition has developed a training curriculum for middle-level journalists and the World Press Day in collaboration with the Council at the national level. He said the council has supported the exchange of experiences with peers, especially the Kenya Media Council.
Finally, questions from the delegates were answered by the executive members. Ms Barbara Harvey, the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa representative, expressed satisfaction with the statement and said that she is aware of the council’s work and will work with the council to design short- and long-term projects.
