By Muluken Tekleyohanes for Ambassador Media
The 2023/24 World Journalism Survey (WJS) and the International Media Support (IMS) 2024 Journalist Safety Assessment Report expose a stark reality: Ethiopia has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism.
The numbers are devastating. Out of 363 Ethiopian journalists surveyed, 26.7% reported being imprisoned in the past five years — compared to a global average of only 3.7%. Nearly half admitted to living under surveillance, and over 38% said their digital platforms were hacked or blocked. This paints a picture of a media environment where free reporting is not only discouraged but criminalized.
The IMS report adds another layer of concern. In 2023 alone, at least 43 journalists were arrested or abducted, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Amhara, Oromia, and Benishangul-Gumuz. Threats come not only from state actors but also from armed groups, creating an environment where safety, freedom, and independence are under constant attack.
For Ambassador Media, these are not just research findings — they are lived realities. Our organization has been a target of political interference, surveillance, and systematic repression. Journalists under our umbrella have faced arbitrary arrests and intimidation. Employees report constant monitoring by National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) agents, leaving them in fear for their lives and families.
Our materials — cameras, recordings, and unpublished stories — have been seized by security forces, erasing months of professional work. At times, our platforms have been forcibly silenced. Ethiopian authorities ordered the shutdown of our social media pages, cutting off one of the few channels through which we could reach the public with independent reporting.
The repression became so severe that both our General Manager and Editor-in-Chief were forced to flee the country. Their departure is a symbol of the shrinking space for media freedom in Ethiopia. Journalists should not have to choose between their profession and their safety — yet this is now the grim choice before many.
These findings underscore a dangerous trend: Ethiopian journalism is being pushed away from critical, investigative reporting and cornered into what the state calls “development-oriented journalism.” This redefinition strips the media of its role as a watchdog and transforms it into a mouthpiece for those in power.
At Ambassador Media, we believe that journalism must remain a pillar of democracy, truth, and accountability. The suppression of independent voices is not just a violation of human rights — it is a national tragedy. Ethiopia cannot build peace, stability, or development by silencing its journalists.
Despite the intimidation we have faced, we remain committed to amplifying the truth, exposing repression, and standing with Ethiopian journalists everywhere. The struggle for press freedom is not over — it is only beginning.
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