Economist Podcasts Press clipping: Ethiopia’s media crackdown
Jun 2, 2022
Tom Gardner, The Economist's Horn of Africa correspondent, shares gripping insights into the Ethiopian government's crackdown on media, detailing the dangerous climate for journalists amidst civil unrest. Erin Braun, covering California's cannabis crisis, discusses the struggles faced by legal growers under heavy taxation and stringent regulations despite a booming market. Together, they highlight the chilling effect of authoritarianism on press freedom in Ethiopia and the urgent need for reform in California's cannabis industry.
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Expulsion from Ethiopia
- Tom Gardner, the Horn of Africa correspondent, was expelled from Ethiopia after five years.
- This followed online accusations of bias and spurious claims of breaching ethics codes, triggered by Gardner's questioning of a pro-government academic's work.
Authoritarianism in Ethiopia
- The online harassment of journalists, while distinct in Tom Gardner's case, reflects a broader trend in Ethiopia.
- The government's increasing authoritarianism has led to numerous arrests of journalists and activists, marking a new low in the country's history of press freedom violations.
Targeted for Criticism
- Tom Gardner believes his prominence as one of the few remaining foreign and independent reporters in Ethiopia made him a target.
- The Economist's critical coverage of the government's role in the civil war likely contributed to his expulsion.