Community Radios for Inclusive National Dialogue

Community media outlets in Ethiopia can be broadly categorized into three types: university-owned stations, city or zonal administration-supported channels, and rural community-owned peripheral channels. Notably, there are 12 community radio channels in each of these categories. If we were to include those affected by conflict in Tigray and northern Amhara, as well as those not operating for technical reasons, the number could be higher. Here is a breakdown of the community radio stations:

 University Community Radios (12): Bahirdar, Jimma, Haromaya, Debremarkos, Hawassa, Dilla, Dire Dawa, Wollega, Metu, Dembi Dolo, Addis Ababa, Civil Service University, and the non-functioning Woldia.

City/Town-based Community Radios (12): Segele Adama, Wegita Wolaita, Semera, Hawassa Industrial, Gambela, Kombolcha, Kambata (Durame), Injibara, Silte, and Finote Selam (destroyed in the recent conflict in Amhara).

Peri-urban/Rural Stations (12): Arri, Korre, Adola Geda Guji, Dillo (Borena), Uba Debre Tsehay (Goffa), Dibate (Benishangul), Kaffa, Argoba, Sude (Arsi), Chewaka (Buno Bedele), Shaka, and the non-operational Guba (GERD site).

Recent Developments: A significant development in the community media landscape is the recent emergence of ‘community TV’ stations. Presently, there are six TV channels registered as community-based, all located in Southern Ethiopia. These channels have raised some controversy as most of them have received support from zonal governmental administrations and aspire to form regional administrative states. This trend appears to have been influenced by the Sidama Media Network (SMN), which itself was seemingly inspired by the formation of the Oromia Media Network (OMN), especially in its early days. These TV stations, while technically falling under the category of community media, may sometimes prioritize certain political objectives over the traditional principles of community engagement.

Challenges: Challenges in the community media sector stem from diverse sources, including influences exerted by higher authorities like local government administrations and university leadership, financial sustainability issues, professionalism gaps, and competition from state-owned and state-affiliated local media outlets. It’s worth noting that outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia lacks private commercial radio stations. Notably, attempts to attract bidders for commercial FM licenses in Hawassa and Bahir Dar proved unsuccessful. The nearest approximation to commercial radio outside Addis Ababa is the state-affiliated Fana Broadcast Corporate, which operates relay and local FM channels in 12 major regional towns, including Jimma, Haromaya, Nekemte, and Wolaita Sodo, where community channels also operate. Similarly, the national broadcaster, Radio Ethiopia, maintains 11 localized FM relay channels. The prominent regional broadcasters, such as Oromia Broadcast Network (OBN) and Amhara Media Corporate (Ameco), each operate seven local FM stations within their respective regions. This dynamic has engendered competition in some towns among these players, encompassing national, regional, semi-commercial stations, and community channels alike.

Opportunities:  The community media sector in Ethiopia bears a resemblance to the local or neighbourhood press commonly found in many Western nations. It’s worth noting that there are more community media outlets than the combined total of state and private broadcasters. According to the Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA), there are currently 20 public and 38 private broadcasters (radio and TV) in the country. In contrast, there are a remarkable 56 community media houses in Ethiopia, representing a substantial opportunity.

These community media outlets stand out as the most diverse and locally accessible forms of media in the nation. Within an overwhelmingly state-dominated or state-affiliated media landscape, these stations assume a vital role in representing local interests. As grassroots initiatives, they are deeply rooted in their communities and have the potential to contribute significantly to both local and national initiatives, encompassing conflict resolution, peace-building, job creation, and community development.

With strategic support in pivotal areas such as financial sustainability, professional development, and technology integration, these community-based and community-owned radio stations can evolve into influential catalysts for positive change. Future interventions aimed at strengthening the community media sector should prioritize the enhancement of professionalism, the adoption of advanced technologies, and the establishment of robust financial sustainability models. This concerted effort will enable them to maximize their impact on society and fulfil their potential as powerful agents of transformation.

 2.The role & capacity of Community Media in supporting the National Dialogue

 As evidenced in prior initiatives like ETH 034, which focused on promoting “peaceful election” campaigns through multilingual Public Service Announcements (PSAs), community radio stations have demonstrated their significant potential in championing and facilitating the national dialogue process.

Role: Community media houses derive their primary roles from the needs of their respective communities. Consequently, they are expected to serve as sources of information, vehicles for education, sources of entertainment, and crucial hubs and platforms for community discourse and interaction. In matters as vital as peace, community cohesion, and national dialogue, community media houses have an even greater responsibility to amplify the voices of their communities and provide a forum for dialogue at the grassroots level. All the community media houses participating in this project embrace this mission wholeheartedly and remain committed to it. Past involvements in projects like ETH 034, 052, and 084 (in collaboration with university community media) are testament to their dedication. These stations have produced an abundance of content advocating for peace and dialogue. Some have even organized events and initiated reconciliation efforts, exemplified by the actions of Arri Community Radio, as well as Geda Guji and Korree Community Radios, in their endeavors to resolve conflicts between neighboring communities.

Capacity: As previously mentioned, community radio stations exhibit varying levels of development and possess diverse organizational structures—some affiliated with universities, others supported by city or zone administrations, and still a few somewhat independently owned and sustained by the community. In terms of commitment, they all share a deep dedication to the peace and well-being of their communities. However, in terms of capacity, there is a notable discrepancy. A few stations, such as Jimma University, Segele Adama, and Arri, stand as examples of fully capable stations that have managed to achieve sustainability. The majority of community radio stations are barely surviving, while a few are grappling with significant challenges. Predominantly, these issues revolve around finances and the need to retain staff. Many of the young journalists trained through initiatives like ETH 052 are now being recruited by larger competitors, including Fana and regional broadcasters. This trend has affected community media houses adversely, depriving them of experienced talent and causing frequent turnover, which, in turn, impacts their institutional professionalism. Despite these formidable challenges, the only constant in these channels appears to be their dedicated station managers. In spite of the ongoing struggle, they continue to produce content that supports peace and dialogue initiatives unwaveringly.

 Anticipated Activities: As is customary in our past engagements with community radio stations, there are specific post-training activities expected from each participating channel within the scope of this project. For this initiative, we have outlined three to four key expected activities:

• Broadcasting Omni’s Produced PSAs: Each participating station is expected to air the three PSAs produced by Omni.
• Translation and Voice-Over: For those stations utilizing languages other than the original, there is a requirement to translate, dub (voice over), and subsequently broadcast the three PSAs.
• Radio Show Development: Stations are encouraged to create and broadcast a radio show that focuses on promoting dialogue.
• Sustained Engagement: Beyond the project’s duration, stations are urged to continue covering dialogue-related issues, producing shows that encourage dialogue, and maintaining an open dialogue space for communal matters.
• Expected Outcomes: The overarching goal of these activities is to equip community radio channels with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the national dialogue topic. This knowledge will empower them to generate content that fosters community-based dialogue, thereby contributing to the broader national dialogue process. Within this overarching framework, the following specific outcomes are anticipated:
• Comprehensive Understanding: Community media houses will become well-versed in the key facets of national dialogue.
• Enhanced Content Creation Capability: The capacity of community media houses for content creation will be bolstered, particularly in relation to the national dialogue topic. This enhancement will encompass both providing essential coverage and proactively generating fresh and original content.
• Continued Role as Dialogue Spaces: Community media houses will continue to serve as dialogue platforms, both on and off the air, facilitating communal discussions even after the conclusion of this project.

3. Raw Data of Pre and Post Broadcast Assessment

 Over the past two years of collaboration with community radio channels, we have observed a notable emphasis on promoting peace and facilitating dialogue among these channels. Several channels, including Debre Markos, Haromaya, Mettu, Sudde, Adola Geda Guji, and Korre, feature dedicated weekly programs focused on peace-related topics. Additionally, some channels, such as Addis Ababa University, Civil Service University, Bahir Dar, and Dilla, while not having regular peace-themed shows, actively incorporate peace and reconciliation discussions within their other programming.

However, in regions with particularly sensitive sociopolitical situations, such as Wollega and Dembi Dolo universities, establishing regular peace-promoting content proves challenging. The recent conflict in Amhara has further compounded this issue, potentially affecting most Amhara-based channels. Sadly, one community channel in Amhara, Finote Selam, fell victim to the violence and is currently offline.

Turning our attention back to this project, it’s crucial to outline the proposed shows that each participating channel intends to produce and broadcast. Consider this as their pre-broadcast plan or proposal, which will be revisited and reviewed as we assess post-development outcomes after the broadcast period concludes. Below, we provide an overview of the shows planned by each channel:

4. Broadcast report (selected stations)

 Broadcast from selected 5 stations- Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Civil Service University, Sude, Koree and Adola Geda Guji community radio channels is provided separately

 Conclusion

In the tapestry of Ethiopia’s media landscape, community radio stations emerge as powerful threads, weaving together the voices of diverse communities. These stations, despite their financial challenges and organizational intricacies, epitomize the spirit of ‘community ownership’ and volunteer-driven dedication. They stand as beacons of independence, far from the influence of politics and commerce.

The challenges faced by community media, from financial constraints to the competition posed by larger counterparts, paint a picture of resilience and determination. In a media landscape dominated by state-affiliated entities, community radio stations offer a glimmer of hope, representing the local concerns of Ethiopia’s diverse regions.

The opportunities that lie ahead are boundless. With strategic support, these grassroots initiatives can evolve into potent instruments of change. They can not only continue amplifying local voices but also play pivotal roles in conflict resolution, peace-building, job creation, and community development. To harness this potential, investments in professionalism, technology integration, and financial sustainability are paramount.

As we conclude this report, we do so with an understanding that community media in Ethiopia has embarked on a journey towards transformation. These radio stations, deeply embedded in their communities, are not merely broadcasters; they are facilitators of dialogue, champions of peace, and guardians of local interests. The road ahead may be challenging, but the destination is one of empowerment and progress for Ethiopia and its diverse communities.