By Girma A. Demeke
Introduction
A friend recently sent me news detailing the “indefinite suspension” of The Reporter newspaper, and I sat down to read it with a heavy heart. Announced by the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) via a social media post on November 2, 2026, the ban cites national interest and other loaded accusations against Media and Communication Center PLC, the publication’s parent company. The order covers both its Amharic and English print editions as well as its online presence. I never expected such a severe blow to be dealt to the publication, and it deeply saddened me. A few days later, various outlets—including Fana Broadcasting Corporate and Ethiopian Insider—reported on an indirect, vague explanation issued by a government representative claiming jurisdiction over the matter. Ultimately, the justifications offered for the suspension only make the situation feel far more alarming.
The Reporter is a firmly established institution. It publishes two newspapers consistently, twice a week, in two different languages: Amharic and English. Ethiopia has never seen another private media outlet operate for as long as it has. The Reporter is not like the YouTube channels that multiply overnight—closing down today only to reappear under a new name tomorrow without missing a beat. Nor can it be lumped in with the EPRDF-era newspapers that opened and closed almost daily, constantly cycling through name changes. Even though The Reporter is a private business with a private owner, it is, in my view, a key national institution. And such an institution should never be harmed by the very entity tasked with protecting the public good. In this piece, I want to share my perspective on why The Reporter deserves special consideration and why the Abiy administration must reverse its course and reinstate the paper without delay.
The Reporter as a National Asset
When I call The Reporter a national asset, I am by no means overlooking its founder, Amare Aregawi. While I cannot speak firsthand to the immense sacrifices Mr. Amare made or the grueling hurdles he overcame to build this paper into a great institution, it is a matter of public record that he was a figure of the EPRDF era, and his political leanings—particularly in the early days—were evident in every edition. At a time when other independent newspapers struggled to survive, The Reporter found its way into every government office and bureau as—if I am not mistaken—the sole favored private paper. While a few other independent outlets may have maintained a marginal presence in certain offices, no other paper enjoyed that kind of nationwide pipeline. Such institutional advantages were typically reserved for state-run media, whose existence we do not even question. Furthermore, back when newspapers lacked distinct quality or recognition, and when others struggled to secure even a single classified ad, The Reporter routinely hit stands heavy and thick with twenty to thirty pages of advertisements.
Yet, its path to where it stands today was never a smooth ride. Though it was spared the immediate extinction faced by many other resilient media start-ups of its time, The Reporter and its owner still paid a heavy toll, particularly during the later years of the EPRDF administration. But that is not the main point; where it stands today is. Whether during past periods of undeniable government backing or in the years since, the breadth and depth of The Reporter’s content have never been in doubt. Even when criticized for its political leanings, the paper consistently strived for balance. It served as an invaluable platform for literature, art, and culture far removed from the daily political fray, acting as an educator and a spark for society. The contribution of its numerous columns—serving as vibrant public forums across both language editions—simply cannot be denied.
With or without direct or indirect state support, The Reporter has stood as a dependable, high-standard pillar of information for the last thirty years. By any metric, it has reached a level that places it shoulder-to-shoulder with prominent global newspapers. When a publication achieves that level of renown and unwavering quality, the government body that ordered its closure should have first asked itself whom such a shutdown truly harms, rather than leaving citizens to pick up the pieces.
Building an institution is no small feat. Anyone familiar with print journalism knows the immense effort, sleepless nights, and synchronized teamwork of numerous professionals required to put out even a single issue. Producing a paper organized and quality-assured to the standards of The Reporter requires building not just a management team, but an efficient bureaucracy driven by professional competence. Even if some of us disagree with Mr. Amare’s political stances—past or present—one truth remains undeniable. He possessed not only the grit required to build such an enterprise, but also the professional maturity and administrative vision to sustain it. History will carve out its own unique place for Mr. Amare because of it.
The Importance of Institutional Strength
Newspapers and institutions like The Reporter are entities that a wise government should support, not strangle. I say this without falling into the trap of debating whether The Reporter pleased or offended the government with its articles. Making that judgment requires a meticulous, long-term review of published work—a study that demands time and care. In truth, leaning toward a certain political perspective is part of the natural DNA of the media. For instance, The New York Times is widely viewed as left-leaning, while The Wall Street Journal is labeled right-leaning. Yet, no one can deny that both remain educational, serve as barometers of political trends, and channel the public’s grievances and perspectives directly to leadership.
It is impossible not to admire The Reporter for what it has grown into. It is a deeply structured, major institution that all of Ethiopia can take pride in. Let us ask ourselves honestly: today, does Ethiopia have any other newspaper it can truly call its own at this level? In terms of educating society, steering policy corrections, acting as a corrective mirror for the government, and serving as a compass, I do not believe any other medium compares right now. Even if a media outlet occasionally displays bias or runs pieces that sting, disagreements should be handled through dialogue and engagement—suspension is never the right answer.
The media is the voice of the people. For any visionary government, a free press is a vital governance tool. The vitality, quality, and institutional muscle of independent media are true indicators of a stable, mature state. You do not need to be a scholar to recognize the irreplaceable contribution newspapers have made since their inception. In the modern world, the health of a nation’s democracy and justice system is measured largely through its media. True greatness in journalism is defined not just by a paper’s existence, but by its institutional competence.
Conclusion
The Reporter is the pride of Ethiopia. The government should not shut it down. We have to remind ourselves that print media in this day and age is struggling to survive worldwide, let alone turn a profit. If intervention is truly necessary, the proper course of action—since we all share a stake in the country’s future—is to sit down with the owner and discuss how to secure its long-term continuity. Mr. Amare brought it this far; while he is still with us, the government should help preserve its institutional quality and, if it has not already been considered, map out how the paper can continue uninterrupted when he eventually steps away. This is what should be keeping government leaders up at night. The authorities need to pivot their focus to this reality and reinstate the institution without delay.
A healthy, independent media benefits the government just as much as it does the general public. Without a strong, balanced press, it is difficult to claim that any administration is stable or fair—and I mean that for any government, past, present, or future. Let us allow this vital institution to survive and thrive for generations to come. Leaving it suspended indefinitely will only make a revival nearly impossible, even if a reopening is permitted later on.
May the government waste no more time in making the right decision to reopen it, and may they bring us good news soon!
Editor’s Note: Views in the article do not necessarily reflect the views of borkena.com
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