By De Birhan
Nov 17, 2012
Dr. Mesert Chekol Reta, one of the few most distinguished Ethiopian Professors of Journalism and Communications, has passed away, De Birhan has learnt.
He taught at Ashland University in Ohio and University of Michigan-Flint from 2000 to 2005 and recently at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, U.S.A. He had also been the President of the Ethiopian Biographical Resource Center (EBRC) founded by a group of Ethiopians residing in the United States and is engaged in archiving biographical and historic records of Ethiopia and Ethiopians.
He was popular for his critical and educative commentaries and analysis of Ethiopian politics and media. He appeared on most Ethiopian and international media outlets. He has written various acadmic papers on press freedom in Ethiopia including this book titled The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia .
In the 1980s, after graduating from the Addis Ababa University in English, he joined Voice of Ethiopia where he was a broadcaster. In 1990 coming to the United States, he pursued his graduate studies at the University of Minnesota where he earned a Ph.D. in mass communication as well as a second master’s degree in political science.
He was popular for his critical and educative commentaries and analysis of Ethiopian politics and media. He appeared on most Ethiopian and international media outlets. He has written various acadmic papers on press freedom in Ethiopia including this book titled The Quest for Press Freedom: One Hundred Years of History of the Media in Ethiopia .
Dr. Meseret was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. This life-threatening illness required aggressive treatment, and families were seeking help to save his life.
He died in Minnesota early this morning. He is survived by his son and wife.
De Birhan passes its condolence to the families of Dr. Mesert and the Ethiopian audience who benefited from his intellectual analysis and teachings.
De Birhan passes its condolence to the families of Dr. Mesert and the Ethiopian audience who benefited from his intellectual analysis and teachings.
