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October 14 2025
The primary legal instrument governing media operations in Ethiopia is Proclamation No. 1238/2021, the Media Proclamation. This legislation represents a significant update and consolidation of previous media laws, notably repealing the Broadcasting Service Proclamation No. 533/2007 and amending the Freedom of the Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation No. 590/2008.
Proclamation No. 1238/2021 broadly defines "Media" to encompass “periodicals, broadcasting service, and online media”. The EMA is responsible for issuing licenses across various media categories, including "Broadcasting Media," "Periodical," "Online Media," and "Advertising Company". This broad definitional scope ensures that all entities engaged in mass communication, regardless of their specific transmission method, are subject to the Proclamation's regulatory framework.
The core legal requirements regarding content are outlined within Proclamation No. 1238/2021. These provisions dictate the standards for acceptable content and prohibit certain types of material. The EMA is vested with powers to monitor compliance and enforce these standards through various administrative measures.
Key Provisions of Media Proclamation No. 1238/2021 Relevant to Content Compliance
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Article/Section
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Description of Provision
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Implications for Content Compliance
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General Principles (Part Four)
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Media organizations are expected to discharge their legal duty responsibly with high ethical standards and professionalism. They should encourage free flow of ideas, entertain diversity of views, and contribute to public dialogue. Regulation of broadcast material content is for ensuring media operates responsibly.
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Establishes a general obligation for ethical and professional conduct, promoting diverse views while ensuring adherence to legal duties. Content must align with principles of public peace and security.
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Content Focus
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Media content must focus more than 50% on Ethiopia, provide services to Ethiopian audiences in local languages, and derive revenue from advertising/sponsorship within the country.
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Defines the national focus required for media entities operating under the Proclamation.
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Responsibility for Content
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The editor-in-chief of a publication bears responsibility for its content and has the power to ensure nothing is printed against their will. Online media must notify authorities of the editor-in-chief's details.
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Assigns direct accountability for published and broadcast content to the media organization's leadership.
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Freedom of Expression Limitations
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While freedom of expression and media is guaranteed and censorship prohibited, this right is not absolute. Laws ensure media operates by respecting public peace, security, and competing rights and interests.
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Content must be balanced against public order, national security, and the rights of others. This implies prohibitions on content that incites violence, hate speech, or defamation.
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Defamation
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Criminal defamation does not apply to media. Civil defamation may result in monetary damages (up to 300,000 Birr) if statements concern certain issues (e.g., crime, professional incompetence) and are false or made with intent to injure.
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Media entities remain civilly liable for defamatory content, requiring careful vetting of factual accuracy and intent.
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Administrative Measures
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The Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) may issue written warnings, impose administrative fines (up to Birr 200,000), suspend or terminate programs, or suspend/revoke licenses for contraventions.
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Provides the EMA with a range of enforcement tools to ensure content compliance, directly targeting the media organization.
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B. Mandatory Nature of Content Compliance for Media Entities
It is unequivocally clear that a media company, encompassing both traditional and broadcasting entities, must comply with the rules of Ethiopian legislation concerning content. Media organizations are explicitly “expected to discharge their legal duty in a responsible manner with high ethical standards and professionalism”. This is not merely a recommendation but an affirmative obligation embedded within the legal framework.
The EMA actively monitors content and possesses the authority to take administrative measures against media entities that fail to comply with statutory requirements. These measures can include issuing written warnings, imposing administrative fines, and even suspending or terminating programs or licenses. The EMA's ability to impose such direct penalties on licensees underscores the mandatory nature of content compliance.
