PRESS RELEASE Silencing the Media Is Silencing Society November 3, 2026 | For Immediate Release The Ethiopian Journalists Association of Canada (EJAC) unequivocally condemns the Ethiopian Media Authority's decision, announced on November 2, 2026, to suspend the licence of Media Communication Center Private Limited Company (MCC), the publisher of The Reporter newspapers and digital media, one of Ethiopia's pioneering private media institutions. For more than three decades, The Reporter has served the Ethiopian public through its English- and Amharic-language publications, upholding journalistic principles and professional standards while contributing to public discourse and access to information. Over the years, the publication has established itself as an important part of Ethiopia's private media landscape, including through its expansion into digital media. For a generation, The Reporter has worked to promote democratic values, freedom of expression and an informed society, serving audiences across ethnic, religious and political divides. It has continued its journalistic work despite restrictive regulations and persistent challenges that have constrained the country's media environment. According to the Ethiopian Media Authority, the suspension followed more than a year of monitoring the publication's content, during which the regulatory body alleged violations of media ethics and professional standards. However, the decision raises serious concerns about the regulatory environment in which independent media institutions operate and the broader implications for press freedom in Ethiopia. EJAC unequivocally condemns the government's decision and calls for its immediate reconsideration and reversal. The Association has closely monitored developments in Ethiopia's media landscape, where conditions for independent media and journalists have become increasingly hostile over the years. Beyond the suspension of The Reporter, several other media institutions, including Asham TV, Arts TV, Wazema Radio and Addis Standard, have faced temporary or prolonged suspensions. Furthermore, the licences of correspondents working for international media organisations have been temporarily revoked without adequate public explanation, leaving audiences deprived of independent reporting and reliable information. EJAC is also deeply concerned by reports that Ethiopian Media Authority officials repeatedly summoned editors and members of the management of The Reporter prior to the suspension, subjecting them to intimidation and creating an environment of uncertainty and pressure that undermines their ability to carry out their journalistic responsibilities independently. The continued suspension of media institutions, intimidation of journalists and restrictive regulatory practices undermine public access to information, weaken accountability and erode the foundations of a democratic society. Silencing independent media does not serve the public interest; it deprives society of its right to information and to hold those in power accountable. Therefore, the Ethiopian Journalists Association of Canada calls upon: 1. The Ethiopian government and the Ethiopian Media Authority to immediately reconsider and reverse the suspension of MCC P.L.C., restore its operating licence and allow The Reporter to resume its journalistic activities without undue interference. 2. The Ethiopian government to end the intimidation and harassment of journalists, editors and media managers and ensure that media regulatory institutions operate independently, transparently and in accordance with international standards of press freedom. 3. International organisations, press freedom advocates and concerned stakeholders to speak out against the continued restrictions on independent media in Ethiopia and exert pressure on the Ethiopian government to restore MCC's licence and safeguard the country's shrinking media space. EJAC further calls on the Ethiopian government to move beyond the immediate case of The Reporter and take meaningful steps to protect freedom of expression, ensure media pluralism and create a safe and conducive environment for independent journalism. Silencing the media is silencing society. The right to information, freedom of expression and independent journalism must be protected. Ethiopian Journalists Association of Canada (EJAC)