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Ethiopian Civil Service University (ECSU) College of Leadership and Governance, Department of Development Communication and Media Studies held a Public lecture under the title " Social Media as Social Glue or otherwise "  on May 13 ,2024 at  ECSU .

At the opening of the program Dr Lemma Gudissa, Vice President for Academic Affairs, welcomed the participants and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to have Dr Negari Lencho to share his practical and theoretical experience  for the University community. ‘’I am sure ,in the future such kinds of academic activity will pursue in ECSU In light of our unwavering pursuit of academic excellence’’ he added.

He also briefed the establishment, vision, mission and the new objectives of the university after becoming Research University at national level. ECSU used to provide only under graduate programs during the first few years after its establishment .later on, it broadened its scope of service by launching client oriented programs at post graduate levels. Since then the university has been diversifying its postgraduate programs to address divers’ demands of the country’s civil service. Currently, the university has three colleges, one school and institute:  offering 26 post graduate programs, 9 PhD programs, and 11 under graduate programs in different modalities he underscored.

At the beginning of the lecture Dr. Negari Lencho thanked the organizer of the public lecture  and explained the benefit  of creating discussion form among the scholars .Well-functioning democracy requires free and diverse platform capable of keeping people informed, holding powerful actors to account and enabling public discussion on public affairs. So this public lecture could create discussion form among the academician he added.

He also stated that digital media environments are changing in part as a result of technological and market developments largely associated with the rise of digital technology. So Social media helps society to keep connected with each other. People also use different networking for communication, promote business, advertising, product campaign, getting news updates and share an opinion. Because of such reasons social media has so many positive sides that change people’s lives positively and  also so many drawbacks .So People should aware of the advantages and disadvantages of social media and try to use it more responsibly to minimize the risks.

He also briefed that social media is cheap and easily accessed and digital revolution changes citizen from audience to producer in the technological era and this unique feature has contributed to a sense of participation and personal engagement among the users. As a result, peoples critically select message and media responsibly and also government should play its role.

In conclusion, Dr. Negari remarks the biggest social media dilemma could face to stay up-to-date with constant changing world and democracy. The intersection of social media and the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, with a particular focus on hate speech, disinformation and media pluralism should be studied further to reduce its effect on a country.

Department of Development Communication and Media Studies head, lecturers, students, staff and invited guests participated. Different questions and comments were raised for the presenter and he respectively answered them. The public lecture was moderated by Dr. Waqgari ,Dr Gemechisa and Dr Zeleke. At last, Dr. Gebre Miruts, College of Leadership and Governance Dean, thanked all the participants and the organizers for their effective coordination.

Negari Lencho has PhD in Journalism &Mass Communication, Chairperson of a Standing Committee on Human Resource Development, Labor & Technology Affairs of the FDRE House of Peoples Representatives. In addition he was Minister of FDRE Government Communication, Head of Oromia Communication Bureau and Assistant Prof. and Dean, School of Journalism and Communication, Addis Ababa University.