The regulatory body has halted the publisher’s registration over alleged violations of national security and professional standards
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — The Ethiopian Media Authority has indefinitely suspended the registration certificate of the Media and Communication Center Private Limited Company, the publisher of the long-running independent publications Reporter and The Reporter newspaper.
According to an official statement released by the regulatory body, the suspension was enacted following allegations that the outlet repeatedly disseminated content contrary to national interests and security. The Authority further cited the use of sensationalized headlines, the publication of fragmented or distorted reports creating public confusion, and unbalanced coverage damaging the reputation of public and private institutions based on unverified information.
Regulators stated that the decision followed a series of formal discussions and a final administrative warning issued to the media house’s leadership over the past year, alleging that no corrective measures were implemented. Under the terms of the directive, the suspension will remain in effect until the publishing entity demonstrates full compliance with state legal obligations and professional journalism standards. The regulatory statement did not include specific published articles or documented examples detailing the alleged violations.
Founded by veteran journalist Amare Aregawi, Reporter has operated continuously for 32 years as one of Ethiopia’s premier independent print institutions. The indefinite suspension marks a major shift in the country’s remaining print media landscape, drawing concern from press freedom advocates over the future of independent print journalism in the region.
In September this year, the authority “indefinitely” suspended Tigray TV on alleged grounds of “disseminating contents that threaten national security” and one that “incites public conflict.” A month earlier, it announced what appears to be a signal to escalate crackdown on what it described as “illegal digital platforms.” Notably, dozens of Ethiopian journalists are in prison after the government started the crackdown soon after the “brief military operation” against Fano forces in the Amhara region of Ethiopia in August 2023. The fighting is still underway in many parts of the region.
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