The Quest for Press Freedom

The Quest for Press Freedom is a book about press development and freedom in Ethiopia, with a focus on the state media. It examines the building of a modern media institution over the last one hundred years of its existence, and the restrictions against its freedoms. The significance of this work lies in its originality and that it addresses these two issues across three distinct epochs: the monarchy era, the Marxist military regime, and the current ethnic federalist regime. The book examines the political and social situations in each of these periods, and analyzes the effects they had on the media. The book also provides examples of how journalists working for the government-run media have a strong desire to exercise their constitutional right to press freedom. In the final chapter, Reta offers recommendations for a more viable media system in Ethiopia.

Meseret Chekol Reta taught in the Department of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls until his death in November 2012. He received his Ph.D. in mass communication and from the University of Minnesota, where he also received two master's degrees: one in mass communication and the other in political science. In the 1980s he served as a radio journalist for eight years in his native Ethiopia. For the past few years, Dr. Reta has been a frequent guest on the Amharic Service of Voice of America, commenting on various issues including press freedom in Ethiopia and U.S. electoral politics. In 2007 he co-founded and served as president of the Ethiopian Biographical Resource Center, a project that records biographical information on prominent Ethiopians who have made significant contributions to Ethiopia.

Preface
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Glossary
General Introduction
Part One-The Media in the Pre-Occupation and Occupation Periods (1901-1941)
1 Transition from Traditional to Modern Forms of Mass Communication
2 The Media During the Reign of Emperor Menelik II
3 The Media During the Pre-Occupation Period (1913-1936)
4 The Media During the Occupation Period (1936-1941)
Part Two-The Post-Occupation Period: Institutionalization of the Media (1941-1974)
Introduction
5 The Print Media
6 Hurdles Against Professionalism
7 Broadcast Media
8 The Ethiopian News Agency
9 Legal and Administrative Controls over the Press
10 The Media in the Last Days of the Monarchy
Part Three-The Media in the Era of Revolution (1974-1991)
Introduction
11 Print Media
12 Broadcast Media
13 Ethiopian News Agency
14 The Law, the Press, and Professional Association
Part Four-The Media in the Age of Ethnic Federalism (1991-)
Introduction
15 Print Media
16 Broadcast Media
17 News Agenc