Media in Ethiopia

Ethiopia's media system combines periodicals, broadcasting, online journalism, streaming-style distribution and social media. It is multilingual and fragmented across national and regional systems, with access affected by network coverage, conflict, infrastructure and service availability. Public, private, community and online providers serve different audiences and may use Amharic, English, Tigrinya, Afaan Oromoo, Af-Soomaali, Qafar Af and other languages. The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) is the autonomous federal body responsible for media registration, broadcasting licences, monitoring, journalist and correspondent accreditation, complaints and capacity building. It registers periodicals and news agencies, including online media. A periodical is a publication issued regularly at least twice a year. A permanent correspondent generally needs a renewed letter from the media company for EMA procedures. The Ethiopian Communications Authority (ECA) regulates telecommunications, internet providers and spectrum; a broadcaster normally needs an EMA licence before receiving frequency assignment from the ECA. Ethio telecom is the central provider of mobile and data access. Broadcasting covers audio and video delivered through terrestrial, cable or satellite systems, whether free or subscription-based. A published EMA snapshot lists 13 public, 25 commercial, 39 community, 5 educational, 39 religious and 3 pay-TV services. Community broadcasting provides local access and participation. Text-only services do not fall within the same broadcast category. Ethiopia has no separately established national over-the-top streaming category in the available official framework, so practical streaming-style access commonly uses pay TV, licensed broadcasters, registered online media and video or audio shared through YouTube, Facebook or Telegram. The Ethiopian News Agency is a state newswire with 38 branch offices and websites and social-media channels in several local and international languages. Online media can operate through websites, YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram and Telegram. Users may consume news, share material or publish their own content. The EMA complaint system covers false news, hate speech, defamation, obscenity, incitement, privacy violations, cyberbullying, unlicensed media or frequencies, unethical journalism and deceptive advertising. The Media Proclamation No. 1238/2021 and Media (Amendment) Proclamation No. 1374/2025 are in force. They recognize freedom of expression and media freedom while imposing duties related to public peace, security and competing rights or interests. The Hate Speech and Disinformation Prevention and Suppression Proclamation No. 1185/2020 prohibits deliberate hate speech and disinformation. The Computer Crime Proclamation No. 958/2016 addresses digital offences and electronic evidence. EMA service information states that foreign ownership in periodicals, online media and broadcasting is below 25 percent. Internet use reached about 22 percent of the population in 2024 according to World Bank and ITU data. Mobile broadband is much more relevant than fixed access, and fibre availability and connection quality can be barriers outside major cities. Ethio telecom examples include 100 MB for 5 Birr, 1 GB for 37 Birr on a daily package and 1 GB for 82 Birr on a monthly package. Packages and validity can change. Customers may buy data through My Ethiotel, telebirr or *999#, using prepaid, postpaid or hybrid arrangements. There is no general free media access established in the available evidence; typical costs include a phone or other device, mobile data and, for some services, pay-TV charges. Formal access for media companies and journalists involves EMA certificates or licences, ECA spectrum authorization and journalist or correspondent documentation. Citizens can submit and follow complaints to the EMA. Media access is especially relevant for rural and offline communities through radio and television, while mobile social and online services are particularly relevant for urban and younger users. Child-safety evidence from UNICEF research in 2021 and 2022 indicates that about one quarter of 12- to 17-year-olds used the internet, while roughly two thirds of internet-using children had not received online-safety education. Among internet-using children, about 10 percent experienced severe online child sexual exploitation or abuse, 18 percent met an online contact offline and 8 percent shared explicit images. Effective protection combines child and caregiver education, safe reporting channels, cooperation by social-media services and internet providers, and child-friendly responses. Restricting access may reduce exposure but can also limit digital skills.