January 23, 2006
Ethiopia kicks out AP correspondent
One day we were all on a press trip to Ethiopia's Somali region, helping to publicise the plight of 1.75 million drought-stricken Ethiopians. Just a few days later, Anthony Mitchell, the Associated Press correspondent here, was kicked out of the country, for writing stories that were "hostile" to Ethiopia.
It wasn't the Somali story that sealed his fate (although it is a telling juxtaposition of events). According to the Ethiopian News Agency, he was guilty of "tarnishing the image of the nation", "repeatedly contravening journalism ethics", "disseminating information far from the truth about Ethiopia" and, once again for luck, "[disseminating] information bent on tarnishing the image of the country".
Now Anthony doesn't need me to defend him. His hundreds of stories and features are all you need to read – just check Google. AP is also standing by its man – calling him "an aggressive and fair journalist". That is aggressive in search of the facts by the way, not aggressive in tarnishing them.
The suddenness of the order was one of the most unsettling things about it all. Imagine being called into a government office at 6.30 one evening and being given 24 hours to sleep, pack and say goodbye both to your young family and to more than three years of your life.
Another disturbing thing will be the long term implications of this decision. When a country kicks out a good journalist, the only real loser – in terms of reputation and coverage – is the country that did the kicking.
If you want an illustration of that, just look at today's Google News search for Ethiopia.
This morning, the government launched an urgent appeal to the international community for just under US$166 million to keep an estimated 2.6 million of its people alive until the end of the year. The last time I looked, ten publications had picked up on the press conference. Meanwhile, the government's decision to get rid of Anthony, made two whole days ago, was still right at the top of the news agenda, after being picked up by at least 127 publications worldwide.
Here are some of them. The only missing news outlet is BBC Online which has clearly decided that the expulsion of a British journalist by one of Britain's main aid beneficiaries is not news.
The BBC has now published a story:
Ethiopia expels foreign reporter
BBC Online
A British journalist working for the Associated Press news agency has arrived in Kenya after his expulsion from Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government has accused Anthony Mitchell of being hostile. ...
AP Correspondent Leaves Ethiopia Under Expulsion Order
Voice of America
By VOA News. An Associated Press correspondent left Ethiopia Sunday after getting an expulsion order from the government. Anthony ...
Expelled British reporter leaves Ethiopia
Reuters.uk, UK
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - A British journalist ordered to leave Ethiopia within 24 hours after the government accused him of portraying the Horn of Africa ...
Ethiopia expels AP correspondent
Seattle Post Intelligencer
NAIROBI, Kenya -- An Associated Press correspondent left Ethiopia Sunday under an expulsion order after attempts to appeal the decision went unanswered. ...
AP correspondent asked to leave Ethiopia in 24 hours
People's Daily Online, China - 19 hours ago
Ethiopia's Ministry of Information announced Saturday it was decided that the Associated Press correspondent in Ethiopia leave the country in 24 hours for ....
British AP correspondent left Ethiopia under expulsion order
EiTB, Spain
Mitchell's expulsion was widely reported by Ethiopian state radio and television and was a front-page story in the government-run newspaper. ...
Ethiopia Expels AP Correspondent
Forbes
An Associated Press correspondent left Ethiopia Sunday under an expulsion order after attempts to appeal the decision went unanswered. ...
Posted by aheavens at January 23, 2006 1:01 PM