Somali Media Landscape
Printed Press
In the age of
fighting the national freedom, Somalis were not having strapping
printed press because there were no Somali transcripts assisting
any idea that is setting up Somali press and most of the citizens
are described as spoken society.
Prior to the
independence, the colonial countries (Britain and Italy) formed a
small number of newspapers presented in their own languages. The
core concentrations from Britain and Italy were to realize their
political programme and educate the people their culture as well
as disappointing anti-colonial lobby groups.
Nevertheless,
the British occupied part of Somalia, which is called British
Somaliland, achieved its independence on 26th June
1960. 1st July 1960 was the occasion that two parts,
British Somaliland (Northern regions) and Italian Somaliland
(Southern regions), united and formed the first united independent
Somali republic. At once, the colonial founded newspapers stopped
up.
As military coup
d'état led to Siad Barre to presidential administration (1969),
the ministry of information and national guidance of Siad’s regime
handled the press in the country. They published the every day,
widely read newspaper, Xidigta Oktoober (October Star). In
addition, the ministry used to run other periodical
journals.
However, armed
clan militias expelled the Siad’s rule in 1991. The country dashed
into factional civil wars. Since then, a lot of newspapers were
started.
These newspapers
are lack of sufficient capital. The majority of them are published
daily, although there is no know-how that most of newspapers can
run their daily operations. But newspaper owners employed
inexperienced people who can work for them voluntarily.
Consequently, these voluntary and uneducated journalists caused
publications covering falsified information, which is
unprofessional conduct.
A good number of
them are A4 printed-papers; each of them consists of three papers.
Very small number of newspapers is printed on A3 papers in
northern regions. Thus, most of the printed press are using
old-fashioned technology.
Agents
distribute papers in the main streets of main towns from 6:00am to
afternoon. Most of them are young people.
Newspapers have
very low quantity of circulation, ranging from 200 to 1200 copies
per issue. With the exception of written press in northern
regions, their circulation is between 500 & 2000 copies per
issue.
Printed press
cover news, political analysis, family, sports, education, opinion
and religion. Financially, papers are sold under the stated price,
and most of them require regular financial support, which comes
from the advertisements and the owner(s).
As the period of
government controlled press had gone, there are still barriers
facing written press in Somalia. The owner of the press has a
propensity for the interest of his/her clan or sub-clan.
The opening
tactic is to find credibility, which initially comes from the clan
or sub-clan of press owner. Because the owner thinks that his/her
clan or sub-clan will protect his/her paper, when attacked by
other militias that belong to other clan or sub-clan.
Furthermore there was another concern, which is to have glowing
interactions with faction leaders.
Currently
Somalia has more than sixty (60) printed press. As Siad Barre left
the country, Somalis have the liberty to publish, think, write
down and distribute with no limitations and dread, but these civil
rights cannot be perceived completely independent, professional
and effective newspaper journalism. Because, any person can make
public an issue of a newspaper if he/she has enough money to
publish. The maximum total value required to publish is
approximately 300,000 Somali Shillings (US$16). If anybody has
this financial capacity, then his/her name will appear on the
first face of the newspaper as the head or the editor in chief of
this paper. Many people did this means, but they didn’t continue
to exist. Even so, there are possibilities of other individuals to
do this way. So, some of the existing press are missing pluralism
and variety of news and view.
Audio-Visual
Since people in
Somalia are classified as oral society, for the duration of
fighting for nationwide independence, the colonial powers
established two radio stations in near the beginning of 20th
century. The first radio was established in Hargeisa in 1948,
while the second one was founded in Mogadishu in 1952.
The two new
radio stations used to make public programs supporting the
political outline of the colonial authorities in English and
Italian languages. Some of the programs were presented in Somali
language in a translated approach.
When Somalia
took the freedom, the two radio stations continued to work under
the control of the ministry of information and telecommunication
of the Somali civilian government. All publicized programs were
mostly in foreign languages and the journalists were
unprofessional nationals who substituted the foreign
journalists.
Although there
was no large progress, the radio services satisfied and covered
the programs of the new Somali government. But, most of the people
were not familiar to the activities of the media, as the majority
of the people are nomads and pastorals, except few intellectuals,
government employees and the urban citizens.
In 1964, the
fighting between Somalia and the Ethiopian kingdom of Abyssinia,
the two radio stations played significant and remarkable role to
report the war to the people. This period is considered as the
time the Somali people started very well to listen the information
from the two radio stations.
As far as the
vibrant function of these radio stations was recognized and
realized that the ministry for information is the frontrunner of
all ministries. The Somali government began to put its importance
the expansion of the sectors of the Ministry of Information and
Telecommunications resulting the creation of the Somali National
News Agency (SONNA) responsible of gathering all news activities,
locally and internationally throughout the entire country.
As former
military president took the power in 1969 and implemented his
movement towards literacy in 1975, the ministry of information
with the assistance of other countries changed the former colonial
founded studios such as materials & transmissions, and all
programs were prepared in Somali language, though foreign language
programs were broadcasted in the daily schedule plan of the
radios.
As well, the
Siad Barre’s administration formed in the capital city, Mogadishu,
the first Somali TV, which serves only the capital. The TV channel
was sharing the programs with Radio Mogadishu Voice of Somali
Republic.
However the
military government did not accept the establishment of private
media during their 21-year old rule. This private media outlaw was
one of the notable actions that president Siad Barre oppressed his
people.
When Siad Barre
was expelled from the country in 1991, clan based insurgents
founded their own Radio stations. These stations were broadcasting
programs enhancing the political plan of the owned faction leader.
But the majority of these radio stations are not functioning for
the reason that private media came in the market and employed
their staff. As well as, Faction owned Radio stations didn’t get
regular financial support.
In 1999, private
Radio and TV came out. The business of private media appeared more
and more. Most of them operate on FM waves. Banadir and Shabelle
stations have also Short Waves (SW).
Radio stations
are directly and indirectly under owner(s) control, because the
orders, funding and instructions are from the owners. Some of
owners occupy significant titles in the Radio despite of owners’
knowledge to what he is managing. This industry also shares with
written press the tendency to political groups.
Need of safety
of journalists, professional ethics and national security are the
main concerns of Somali media. The number of radio stations is
more than twenty of privately and publicly owned, while three
private televisions are only heard and seen in Somalia.
Most of Somali
Radio and TV stations are taking pleasure in an unparalleled stage
of independence and carelessness. They broadcast every thing that
they want without any meddling of government. However, Somalia has
different political administrations, those passed recently
oppressive press laws.
Internet Media
The modern
media, which operates under the International Network, is now
reachable in Somalia.
There was no
national telecommunications system as the entire network was
destroyed during the past decade of war. In august 2000, Somalia
became the last African country to gain local Internet access,
although in 1999, Telecom Somalia had provided gateway access
through thorugh an online provider in Norway.
The new local
supplier, Global Internet Company, bought the equipment of US
banned Somali Internet Company. The Global Company was a joint
venture of Somali Telecommunication companies (Hormuud, Telecom
Somalia and Nationlinks), but now it has sole proprietor. Their
service costs US$20 per month.
Furthermore,
Wireless Telecommunication of Internet and Telephone was formed in
Mogadishu. The provider of these services, Wireless African
Broadband Telecommunication (WABTEL) achieved high speed, and
attracted Mogadishu Internet Community. Third company of Internet
business called Standard was founded recently.
This service
encouraged the establishment of news oriented websites mostly
written in Somali language. The total number is thirty-four
websites.
The Internet
sites have lack of professionalism in the formulation of the news.
This may be characterised by the failure to admit sources,
identify time and place, supply details and present the news items
in accordance with the relative meaning of its diverse basics and
features.
Also the absence
of sources for photos and graphics strengthens the tendency for
unprofessional conduct, taking photos sources from other sources
without acknowledgement and copying them in a dishonoured form and
a very deprived quality.
By:
Somali Journalists Network (SOJON)
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