EBA evaluates private media’s performance in creating national consensus as low

Addis Ababa, April 12, 2017 (FBC) – The Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority (EBA) has evaluated news and programs aired by private media towards creating national consensus as low and below par.

There were limitations in the implementation of the plans they submitted while acquiring licenses, it said during a consultation it had with commercial media to evaluate their performance in discharging constitutional responsibilities and building democracy.

Zeray Asgedom, director general of EBA, said the authority has the responsibility to monitor and give feedbacks for all media in the country. Accordingly, it monitored 750 news and 800 programs aired by 40 local media during the past two months.

He said the news and programs produced and aired during the past couple of months were good in terms of acquainting the public with the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) and other mega projects as well as dealing on current and regional issues.

However, there were limitations in designing and producing news and programs which created national consensus, he said, adding even some media failed to discharge their responsibilities when incidents which threatened the constitutional order at risk occurred.

Local media mostly lean to sport chats instead of entraining programs which promote diversity, according to the director general.

Hence, in order to fill these gaps, media are expected to be loyal to the constitution as well as build their professional and technical capacities, he noted.

Participants on their parts urged the authority to give series of attitudinal and professional trainings as well as they underscored the importance of implementing the accountability mechanisms stated in Ethiopian mass media and freedom of information proclamation.

EBA has the responsibility to ensure that the broadcasting service is conducted in such a manner that contributes to the proper social, economic, political and cultural development of the country.

It further has the responsibility to issue, suspend and cancel broadcasting service licenses as well as control illegal transmissions.