provide broadcasting services. Within same time period sixteen public and private newspapers and twenty-six more magazines have joined the mass media market and started publication. With regards to the public‟s right to access government information, Proclamation No. 590/2008 provides that all persons have the right to seek, obtain and communicate any information held by public bodies, except as expressly provided for by the Proclamation. With a view of implementing the Freedom of Mass Media and Access to Information Proclamation, the government has established a national task force comprised of all government offices engaged in the task of provision of access to information spearheaded by the Ombudsman. The task force is engaged in the preparation of subsidiary legislations, the provision of training and organizing campaigns aimed at raising the awareness of the public with regard to the access to information law. With the objective of creating a complete legal regime for access to information, various draft legislations are being prepared and are in course of submission to the relevant government organs for endorsement. These include the draft Protected Disclosure Proclamation, and the Classified Information Protection Proclamation and Regulation to provide for fees to access information. The Government created an enabling environment for the media. The Proclamation on Freedom of Mass Media and Access to Information had brought about important developments. The public interest disclosure draft legislation for the protection of whistle-blowers would be submitted for public deliberation which will encourage unrestricted popular participation in combating corruption. A public record policy, legislation and regulations were being finalized with a view to facilitating the speedy implementation of the Proclamation. The Government of Ethiopia recently organized stakeholder consultative forums to assist in identifying structural and institutional shortcomings in the media sector. The problems included inadequate media professionalism, pluralism, competition and self-regulatory mechanisms, an underdeveloped advertising market, poor media management capacity and a lack of governmental subsidies. The Government has been encouraging the media community to establish an independent media council to regulate misconduct. Higher professional training institutions were being established in more than 18 universities. The Ombudsman‟s office organized training for government officials, public relation officers and journalists. More than 4399 individuals have participated in these courses. Any person who seeks to obtain information shall present his request to the concerned public relations officer in writing, or 62