ERISAT

ERISAT: Eritrean Satellite Television

Introduction:

ERISAT is a non-profit public media organization based in California, USA, founded in October 2018 with the goal of providing impartial journalism to Eritrea's diverse communities.

Current Situation in Eritrea:

Eritrea faces limited freedom of speech and access to alternative media sources, with all media being controlled by the government and private media being banned. Reports of censorship, suppression of dissenting voices, and human rights violations, such as restrictions on civil liberties and arbitrary detention and mistreatment of political prisoners, have been reported. Only 20% of the population has access to the internet. The country ranks poorly in terms of human rights and press freedom as reported by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the World Press Freedom Index.

Media Blackout:

All media in Eritrea is controlled by the government and private media is banned, leading to a media blackout in the country and a lack of access to accurate and diverse information. Eritrea was ranked second worst in the world for press freedom in 2021.

Jailed Journalist in Eritrea:

Journalists in Eritrea face significant restrictions and have been arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to torture. According to Human Rights Watch, Eritrean authorities have arrested and detained journalists, opposition politicians, and other perceived opponents without trial for years, often in harsh and life-threatening conditions. The Committee to Protect Journalists has documented numerous cases of journalists arrested and held incommunicado without trial.

Freedom of Press/Speech Ranking:

Eritrea ranks "Not Free" in terms of press freedom and freedom of speech according to Freedom House's 2022 Press Freedom Index, scoring 89 out of 100. The country consistently ranks poorly in terms of human rights and freedom of the press as reported by organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and Freedom House.

Human Rights Violation:

Eritrea is known for widespread human rights violations, including restrictions on civil liberties and arbitrary detention and mistreatment of political prisoners. The government is accused of extrajudicial killings, forced labor, and torture. The country is criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability and for failing to address human rights concerns.

ERISAT: History

ERISAT, founded by Eritreans in the diaspora in October 2018, has emerged as a prominent source of impartial journalism for Eritreans worldwide.

ERISAT: Mission and Vision

ERISAT's mission is to provide trusted, responsible, and impartial journalism that informs, engages, and empowers Eritrea's diverse communities. Its vision is to become Eritrea's Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

ERISAT Programs and Services:

ERISAT broadcasts 24-hour daily TV programs in Afar, Arabic, Blin, Tigre, and Tigrinya, including news, analysis, information, entertainment, talk shows, documentaries, sports, and cultural programming about Eritrea and the world. ERISAT also started a one-hour shortwave radio program airing five days a week to reach communities with limited access to satellite TV and internet services. The organization partners with over 25 YouTube channels to provide diverse programming from different perspectives.

Leadership and Staff:

ERISAT is led by a volunteer board of directors and staffed by Eritrean volunteers from around the world.

Funding and Support

ERISAT's primary source of funding is donations from the public and Eritrean volunteers across the globe.

Impact and Accomplishments:

On June 11, 2022, ERISAT hosted a symposium to discuss the role of press freedom in democratizing Eritrea and addressing the country's media blackout. The event was held in a hybrid format and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. The symposium featured keynote speakers including Steven C. Walker, Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Eritrea, Yirgalem Fisseha Mebrahtu, a poet, journalist, and writer, and Professor Dan Connell, Zecarias Kibreab, and Dr. Mehari Zewde. ERISAT's board members and staff presented the organization's programs and services, with partner media organizations sending solidarity messages. The event also included a fundraising concert and the presentation of the Milkias Mihreteab Yohannes (MMY) Award for Independent Journalism and Courage. ERISAT has become a valuable source of information in Eritrea due to its commitment to impartial journalism and its mission to inform, engage, and empower the country's diverse communities. This is especially important in a country where freedom of speech is limited and access to alternative media sources is restricted. ERISAT's dedication to promoting press freedom and providing accurate and diverse information was further highlighted during the symposium.

Controversies and Criticisms

ERISAT has faced criticism regarding its editorial policy, with some claiming that it does not cover a broad range of political perspectives. In response to these concerns, the leadership of ERISAT stated during an SBS Tigrinya Radio interview that the organization is committed to improving its editorial policy to ensure fair and impartial coverage of all significant issues, including diverse viewpoints and political participation. Despite the criticism, ERISAT remains dedicated to fulfilling its mission of providing impartial journalism and engaging with the communities of Eritrea, while striving to serve the public interest and reflect the diversity of these communities.

References

1. Freedom House. (2022). Freedom in the World 2022: Eritrea. https://freedomhouse. 
2. Committee to Protect Journalists. (2021). Eritrea. https://cpj.org/countries/eritrea/
3. UNESCO. (2016). Dawit Isaac awarded the 2016 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. https://en.unesco.org/news/dawit-isaac-awarded-2016-unesco-guillermo-cano-world-press-freedom-prize
4. PEN America. (2005). Simeon Eyob awarded the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award. https://pen.org/simeon-eyob-awarded-penbarbara-goldsmith-freedom-write-award/
5. Committee to Protect Journalists. (2002). CPJ honors journalists who have died or suffered in pursuit of their craft. https://cpj.org/awards/2002/intl.php
6. Human Rights Watch. (2021). Eritrea. https://www.hrw.org/africa/eritrea
7. https://www.bbc.com/tigrinya/articles/cx9y52n5y09o
8. https://rsf.org/en/country/eritrea
9. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/tigrinya/ti/podcast-episode/c60f103a-7a72-4d0a-8b7d-eb4f635bb638/xnfhpxsmm?language=ti
10. https://www.sbs.com.au/language/tigrinya/ti/podcast-episode/erisats-media-activities-conversation-with-tewelde-estifanos-and-saba-tesfayohannes/9iwrhd6ib
11. List of television networks by country#Eritrea

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