State intervention and the erosion of press freedom: The case of Asham Television

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to state intervention and the erosion of press freedom: the case of Asham television. The study used a qualitative case study design that examined the case. Purposefully selected two distinct letters were employed. Besides, the study's theoretical approach was based on the four normative theories of press.  The findings of the study highlight the problematic nature of the Ethiopian Media Authority's warning letter to Asham Television, which illustrates fundamental tensions between constitutional guarantees for press freedom and the basis for the warning. The study's findings also show that the government's intervention on media freedom during the Prosperity regime is no different from previous regimes in Ethiopia. The results draw attention to the moral and legal conundrums raised by government meddling in media affairs. According to this study, government actions go against the democratic rights protected by the Constitution and the Proclamation, which eroded public trust in legal frameworks and jeopardized press freedom and the integrity of media professionals.  Therefore, the study suggests that other researchers perform more research and incorporate other media companies in addition to Asham TV; still, we believe that including public comments will make the work more compelling and impactful.