Parties use over 70 percent allocated airtime, columns

Addis Ababa, June 16, 2021 (FBC) – Ethiopian Media Authority (EMA) said over 70 percent of first round television and radio airtime and newspaper columns for political campaign for the 6th general elections have been utilized by parties.

EMA Communication Affairs Director Abera Wondessen told EPA that contending parties used 620.15 hours for radio, 615 columns for newspaper and 420.15 hours for TV during the first round.

Taking about the second-round airtime and newspaper column allocation, he said that EMA has provided 155.45 hours for TV, 217.45 hours for radio and some 195 columns for newspaper. “This round’s utilization report has not yet completed.”

According to him, most contending parties have exploited the given opportunities to popularize their respective policy and strategies to voters. As the election campaign comes to end today, EMA will soon make public how each contending party utilized the airtime and columns, Abera said.

“Contending parties that are competing in various states of the country and in remote areas have faced difficulties to utilize the allocated airtime and newspaper columns. For instance, parties that are found far from media’s station unable to utilize the opportunities effectively. The deadline to submit the program before 48 hours has been also challenging the contending parties for effective utilization of the opportunities.”

Some contending parties have not totally made used the allocated airtime and columns for various reasons and it might indicate these parties’ incapability to be the voice of the people, the director noted.