Addis ababa: Social Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, Muaze Tibebat Deacon Daniel Kibret, emphasized today the crucial role media institutions must play in safeguarding Ethiopia's national interest. A national conference themed "Media for National Interest" is currently taking place in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, the Advisor highlighted that since the reform, the Medemer State has engaged in activities aimed at fostering multi-national unity and protecting national interests. He outlined the focus on building a shared national narrative, strengthening communal values, and ensuring national prosperity.
Muaze Tibebat Deacon Daniel underscored the media's significant contribution to nation-building and urged them to diligently work towards protecting the country's interests. He stressed that the media's ultimate mission should be to provide responsible and accurate information to the public. The Advisor further emphasized that creating a prosperous Ethiopia is a collective responsibility, not just a government concern, and called on everyone to contribute to the nation-building process.
Haymanot Zeleke, Ethiopian Media Authority Director-General, also addressed the conference, acknowledging the media's vital role in nation-building by offering timely and accurate information. She noted the considerable expansion of the media landscape due to reforms, with the number of media institutions in Ethiopia increasing by approximately 150 percent. However, she cautioned that this growth must be accompanied by improved public access to credible information.
The Director-General expressed concern over the increasing pressure on professional ethics, which she said is contributing to insecurity and instability in the information arena. She identified foreign digital media platforms as primary sources of misinformation and hate speech and called on domestic media to counter these challenges by upholding ethical standards.
The event, organized by the Ethiopian Media Authority, saw the participation of standing committee chairs of the House of People's Representatives, senior government officials, and leaders of media organizations.