Where We Work

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ethiopia

Ethiopia faces multiple development challenges, and some of the world’s lowest reproductive health and development indicators. In this context, and where the majority of people are rural, radio is the best means of communicating information about how people can best look after themselves and their families.

Sonya De Masi/Internews Journalist Markos Yeshanew listens to stories of a women's group in Metahara, a transport hub and HIV hotspot between Addis Ababa and Djibouti.

Internews Network has had an established presence in Ethiopia since 2005 and is unique in providing a stable presence with in-country training, support and resources specifically for media professionals, primarily radio. As a result it has deep and established connections with government, media organizations and journalists and a comprehensive understanding of Ethiopia’s media environment.

The current project is an extension of the Local Voices initiative, implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Tamil Nadu- India, which aimed to create a more supportive social environment for preventing and mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS through an enlightened and committed local broadcast community.  The Ethiopia project was extended in 2008 and is funded by PEPFAR through USAID until the end of September 2010.

Internews Ethiopia has to date trained more than 500 radio and newspaper journalists, resulting in more than 1700 stories with an HIV/AIDS focus published or broadcast as a direct result of trainings. In Ethiopia, the complex and often culturally sensitive constellation of issues related to sexual and reproductive health, HIV prevention and testing and gender make it particularly important for journalists to report in a way that is accurate, non-stigmatizing and supports national and local efforts. There is anecdotal and material evidence that this focussed training and on-going support has contributed to an overall improvement in journalism standards, in the context of HIV prevention and beyond.

Direct engagement with station owners and editors has resulted in broader commitment to content on HIV and AIDS in the media sector. Training of PR and communications staff from government, local NGOs and CBOs focuses on tools and techniques for effective media outreach;  building relationships with journalists, writing press releases and organizing effective media events. A Media Resource Centre in Addis Ababa, with a complete radio studio, digital recording equipment and open-access computer centre with digital editing software currently supports the production of seven radio programmes and is a resource for health and social affairs journalists from across the media spectrum. Journalists have access to editorial support and mentoring, travel and equipment grants and support for identifying story ideas, contacts and research.

In 2009, Internews was identified as the primary training partner of the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency, the newly corporatized and tri-media national broadcaster. As a result Internews is offering, for the first time in Ethiopia, a television training workshop for professional journalists and camera-people. The first online workshop in Ethiopia will also be convened, to support the launch of the ERTA’s online presence.  

Sub-Saharan Africa