Browsing by Author "Gebremedhin Simon"
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Item Audience Reception Analysis of “BETEGNA” Radio Program: The case of Amhara Mass Media Agency(Addis Ababa University, 2011-05) Mustofa Worku ; Gebremedhin SimonThe HIV/AIDS epidemic has affected millions of people all over the world. In most countries, the HIV epidemic is related to behaviors that expose individuals to the virus. And the media plays pivotal role in disseminating information and creating awareness about HIV/AIDS and other health related issues. One of the programs is 'Betegna' which works on the fight against HIV/AIDS and other health and social related issues. Audience Reception Analysis of 'Betegna' Radio Program: The case of Amhara Mass Media Agency seeks to describe how the program contents or messages are interpreted by the target audience and how relevant they are to the audiences. The study analyzed the access and use of media to determine audience's tuning habit, the relevance of the program to the audience, the language use, and interpretation or understanding of program contents were examined through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and letters sent to the program producers. Four FGD which involved 25 participants were formed and the groups were arranged based on age. Most participants of the FGD used to be part of a listening group arranged by the program producers. In addition, three in-depth individual interviews were conducted with three program producers. The finding indicates that the time of transmission is a factor for less regularity of audiences. Audiences, also, believe that the duration of the program is too short. The other factor the study revealed is that low level of education affects the understanding of language. Those who are uneducated and whose level of education is less than high schools have faced difficulties of understanding the message of the radio program.Item Audience Satisfaction with Ethiopian Television Evening Amharic Program(Addis Ababa University, 2005-02) Abel Adamu ; Gebremedhin SimonTelevision with its audiovisual nature plays a great role in presenting events within their contexts to its audiences. Similarly, ETV has been serving its audiences since its establishment in 1964. Although audiences continue watching ETV, they are usually heard airing their dissatisfaction regarding the quality of ETV services. Despite the fact that audience satisfaction study is invaluable, it is difficult to get such a comprehensive research in Ethiopia. This paper, therefore, aims at investigating how the complaints of audiences of ETV evening Amharic program are deeper. That is, it tries to assess the satisfaction/dissatisfaction level of audiences with the programs. The study focuses on Amharic language since most of ETV’s airtime is covered by this language. The subjects of the study are 300 TV viewers of Bahir Dar, Dessie and Gondar towns residents who have television sets and pay annual service charge. Most of the respondents are young people. Audience satisfaction studies are usually done using survey methods. As a result, a questionnaire, to find out the audiences’ level of satisfaction based on Likert’s scales, is used to collect the required data. Mean scores of satisfaction scales and percentages of respondents are used for the analysis and interpretation of the data. The questions are analyzed in terms of eleven factors that affect audiences’ gratifications. The results, however, represent tendencies rather than actual facts because they are based on personal opinions and predispositions. The degree of gratification (satisfaction, dissatisfaction or neutral) is determined based on three assumptions that basis on the mean scores of responses on satisfaction scales. Accordingly, the main findings are the following. Audiences’ level of satisfaction is very low. They show their dissatisfaction with the overall services of the channel. Most of the programs lack credibility. Moreover, among the programs Local News and Current Affairs reports and Advertisements are the most dissatisfying programs. Only Q&A, Sport and ’50 Lemon’ programs are relatively the most satisfying ones. Furthermore, most of the audiences watch ETV either as a habit or due to lack of an alternative channel. Hence, looking through these results, it is possible to say that ETV Amharic programs are unable to gratify its audiences by producing and broadcasting programs that go with the needs of its viewers. All these indicate that ETV, being the only medium in the country, to gratify its audiences, should exert more efforts to improve its programs in line with the needs of its viewers.Item Audience Satisfaction with Oromiatelevision Afan Oromo Programs(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Dawi Amante ; Gebremedhin SimonThe study explores audiences' level of satisfaction on Oromia TV Afan Oromo programs. It also examines why the audience watch TVO in line with their program preference and content selection. In order to deal with the research problems and related concepts, the researcher had referred different related literature written on this topic. In relation to this different theoretical frame works and models related to media satisfaction were revised.Both qualitative and quantitative research methods were utilized in the study. And two towns of Oromia regional state (Ambo and Adama ) were purposely selected as study area. Besides editor and audience research department workers were interviewed to make the study more reliable. The findings, revealed audiences' level of satisfaction with TVO Aflin Oromo programs is very low. They showed their dissatisfaction with the overall services of the medium. But still the majority of the respondents prefer to view this channel for the affection of the language. On the other hand when it comes to program preference they preferred to view entertainment programs than other issues. Besides they expressed their satisfaction with some programs like Dorgadorge(Q&S) and daddaraaro(Oromia idol) programs .Likewise they stated their dissatisfaction with TVO news and Ardaa marii (talk shaw) programs. According to the result of the study,TVOromia Afan Oromo programs were unable to satisfy their audiences by producing and transmitting programs that go with the needs and interest of its audience.Item Audiences Reception of the Anti-Corruption Television Spots(Addis Ababa University, 2009-10) Kibrewosen Worku; Gebremedhin SimonCorruption has been one of the major factors affecting the social, moral, political and mainly economical aspects of developing countries including Ethiopia. In order to avoid the harm being caused by this practice, creating an aware society can be taken as a first step. For achieving this purpose TV spots are being produced by the Federal Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission. And it is important to know how meaning is been made and what the audiences reception towards these TV spots is. As central to this study, how audiences make meaning out of the TV spots and the factors contributing for reception process are dealt. For refereeing as frame works, facts about corruption are presented to provide a compiled contextual picture of the case both in international and national level. Comparative with other audience- message – media theories the active audience theory, which emphases on the audiences involvement in reception process, is used as a theoretical frame of the study. Qualitative research method, which is believed to be appropriate for audience reception studies, is used as a methodology. Textual analysis, focus group discussions and in-depth interview are deployed to undertake the study. Sampling of the TV spots to be textually analyzed is performed based on the time intervals in which the TV spots are broadcasted. And samples for comprising respondents were formed standing from the TV spots content and from the encoder‟s information. The results of this study revealed that the previous attitude and understanding corruption plays a major in the meaning making process. Their lived experiences also highly contribute in shaping the respondents attitude towards the TV spots and the message they contained. In addition to this, the TV spots corruption type coverage, message features, language clarity and characters selection contribute a lot in meaning formation.Item Communication in Relation to Culture of a far People: Female Genitial Circumcision in Focus(Addis Ababa University, 2011-05) Asmeret Nigus ; Gebremedhin SimonThe role of communication in understanding meaning generated by means of signs and codes and connecting the collection of meanings to the whole is the paramount reason that leads people‘s way of life to a broader part. This study sets out to examine the generation of meaning through cultural practices; taking the practice of female genital circumcision in focus. The research particularly shades light on the Afar people meaning attribution of female genital circumcision (FGC). Different efforts have been made in order to stop FGC in the study area because its physical and psychological impact is greater than its value in other cultures. Yet the efforts that have been made in stopping the practice are meaningless to the people of Afar and they are not willing to let the new idea or knowledge to get in to the way of the old one because FGC for them is a cultural entity that holds the other traditions and values together and without it their way of life could be diminished. Here what this study tried to find out is the Afar people’s generation of meaning by practicing FGC. The study tried to answer the people’s cultural implication of the practice and their disparity in the interpretation of FGC Qualitative methodology is used to dig out information that is vital to the study. The study employed interview, focus group discussion and participant observations as tools for generating data from two weredas namely: Dubti and Abala. For this study a purposive sampling technique was followed as the focus is on limited number of informants, that are selected strategically so that their in depth information will give optional insight. The finding of the study shows that the people’s meaning of FGC as a symbol signifying their tradition: preservation of virginity, enhancement of male sexual pleasure, a stage for womanhood, better marriage prospects and prevents excessive clitoral growth; their strong religious attachment: cleanliness, as baptism to be a Muslim and as a procedure to be accepted as a member of the society. Their meaning given to the practice by the people is diverse as a result of their age, gender, social status. I addition, People who live in the urban and rural area have different interpretation of FGC.Item Communication Strategies in Child Feeding With Reference to Essential Service For Health in Ethiopia (ESHE) Operation Areas: The Case Of Haramaya Woreda(Addis Ababa University, 2007-07) Temesgen Woyessa ; Gebremedhin SimonExploring the communication strategies employed by an international non-governmental organization (NGO) ESHE-Oromia (Essential Service for Health in Ethiopia), operating in three Regional States-Oromia, Amhara and South Nation Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) to promote child feeding as an integral part of its child survival project. The study primarily focused on Information, Education and Communication (IEC) System EHSE-Oromia was employing to create awareness of the community on child feeding. The major issues raised in the study were socio-cultural barriers that hinder particularly exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding, communication strategies employed to promote child feeding, appropriateness of contents of the messages intended to reach the target groups and lesson that could be learned from the project. Data were collected through Qualitative type of research methods designed. Using semi-structured guiding questions for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), individual in depth interview and participants' observation, the data were collected. In rare cases informal discussions were also held to seal the gaps where the needs arisen. The study was based in Haramaya Woreda, East Hararghe Zone in Oromia Regional State. The qualitative data gathered from the two villages - Finkille and Tinike Peasant Associations (PAs) of Haramaya woreda were qualitatively analyzed and discussed based on the fundamental theories employed in the study: participatory, development and the two-step flow of communications and the research questions raised in the study. Accordingly, the study indicates that the major communication strategies exploited by ESHE-Oromo and most favored by the community was interpersonal communication. Radio-Harar, which was mostly accessed by the community, was unnoticed. Further more, the most favored places to exchange in formation were found to be market, wedding ceremonies, mourning ceremonies and other social gatherings like Afosha (mini self help associations). On the other hand, discarding colostrums and giving butter to newborn babies as a medicine were found to be some of the major harmful traditional practices in the study areas. Failure of consistent follow-up of the activities of volunteer community Health Promoters (CHPs) and employment of pictures that does not represent the community at the study sites were also some of the problems the study revealed.Item A Comparative Study of State and Private FM Radio Journalists’ Job satisfaction: A case of FM Addis 97.1 and Fana FM 98.1(Addis Ababa University, 2011-05) Sisay Berihu ; Gebremedhin SimonThis study aims to investigate the level of journalists’ job satisfaction working in both state and private FM radio stations. FM Addis 97.1 and Fana FM 98.1 were taken as samples from state and Private FM stations respectively. A total of 43 journalists participated in the survey. The required data was collected using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). A job satisfaction questionnaire consisting open and close-ended items was employed. Seven job satisfaction subscales and journalists’ demography was included in the questionnaire. Two groups of journalists, with 10 individuals each; participated in FGD in two sessions. The results are analyzed and interpreted using SPSS software version 15. The scores are interpreted quantitatively. FGD comments and open-ended suggestions are interpreted qualitatively. The study indicates that the job satisfaction level of state and private FM stations’ journalists were found moderately dissatisfied and satisfied respectively. Thus, the job satisfaction level is higher in private stations. The overall mean of journalists’ job satisfaction level is 3.5 at ascale of 5.00. In isolation, journalists from state station scored 3.68 and those from private station lower by 1.13(i.e. 2.5). This indicates private FM journalists are better in job satisfaction level. 66.7% of private journalists are satisfied in their job while 52% of state owned FM journalists are dissatisfied. In addition, the study found that there is a weak relationship between journalists’ job satisfaction and their demographic variables. The strength of the correlation between the variables is found significantly weak. The results suggest the need of various corrective measures in both stations (more in state owned) to enhance journalists’ job satisfaction.Item A Comparative Study of two Second Language Teaching Approaches:I The Language AcqUisition and Conscious Rule-Learning Approaches(Addis Ababa University, 1984-06) Gebremedhin Simon ; Melaku AsfawThis study was conducted in order to determine whether the Language Acquisition Approach to language teaching is more effective and functional than the Conscious Rule-learning Approach in enhancing students' proficiency in English. Six sections of freshman Social Sciences students were selected and assigned into two groups, the study group and the control group, by lot. A pretest was given before the study started and the results showed that the~was no significant dif~erence in English language proficienoy among the groups. The three sections of the study group were supplied with a set of topics - topics that freshmen would find meaningful and interesting, and that are related to their courses. The students were expected to select topics and initiate discussions. Each study group class was divided into small discussion groups consisting of a maximum of four students. These small groups worked independently in the selection and treatment of the topics. Each member had a turn to come prepared and present his views to others on topics assigned to him. To keep the students busy, each member was then expected to write a report on what the group discussed. Teacher's role was reduced to co-ordinating the activities and acting as a partner. The control group which had three sections was supplied with teaching materials based on the Conscious Rule-learning Approach. The materials consisted of adequate linguistic descriptions of selected items, i.e., the descriptions of the uses of "would," "could", "should" and conditional sentences, and adequate exercises that would help to form the desired habits. They consisted of oral drills and simple sentence completion exercises. The teacher had the dominant role and errors were deliberately and tirelessly corrected. After six weeks, a post-test was given and the results showed a significant difference in language proficiency between the study groups and the control groups. A twotailed t-test at a significance level of 0.05 was used to determine the significance difference between the means of .the groups. On the basis of the findings, it was recommended that non-native speakers ehould be taught English using the Language Acquisition Approach. Moreover, it was recommended that research must be conducted on ways of designing syllabus, methodology. preparation of teaching materials and evaluating performances based on the Language Acquisition ApproachItem Coverage of Corruption in the Ethiopian Print Media: The Ethiopian Herald. The Reporter, Fortune and Capital in focus.(Addis Ababa University, 2015-02) Nakachew Ayele ; Gebremedhin SimonThi s study intends to look at the ro le of print media In the fight agai nst corruption In Ethiopia by focusing on coverage. Both quantitative and qualitative methodology were used to analyze the data. Content analysis was employed as a main method. In depth interviews were also made wi th edi tors and journalists of the newspapers. Agenda selling and social responsibi lity theories were used as theoretical framework . To gather the data for the content analysis, five month's editions of the fo ur newspapers (The Ethiopian Herald, The Reporter, Fortune and Capital) spanning from May 13 ,20 13 to September 13,2013 was taken as samples of the study. All corruption related stories found were coll ected and content analyzed. The analysis was made based on the type, theme, source and placement of stories. The data found from the interviews were used to back up the analysis. The result of the study reveals that all the newspapers gave considera ble coverage to corruption issues. The newspapers coverage of corruption was dominated by news genre. Most of the articles were informative rather than educative. Fraud was the leading form of corruption themes. In terms of source used, even though there were differences among the newspapers, law enforcement bodies served as their major sources of corruption stories.Regarding placement, The Reporter was better in placing corruption related issues on its front page than Capital, Fortune and The Ethiopian Herald. Based on the slUdy, a couple of recommendations that might help to lessen the li mi tatio ns of the press are suggested.Item Cross-Cultural Reception Analysis of Selected Commercials on Ethiopian Television (ETV) Amharic Program(Addis Ababa University, 2008-06) Yonathan Alemu ; Gebremedhin SimonThe role of advertising in market economy is to inform as well as educate consumers about products and services. To achieve these goals, advertisers employ a variety of cultural values in their appeals. Today one of the most contested issues in advertising strategies is the role of culture. The main focus of this study is the role of culture in media messages and the reception of them. How Ethiopian audiences draw on local or western cultural resources or a combination of the two, in their meeting with different media texts will be central. A qualitative research method is often considered the most appropriate in audience reception studies, and this was also the case here in this study. The study follows a three stage qualitative approach; which include qualitative content analysis, focus group interviews and in-depth interviews with individual viewers. For this study, a two stage sampling technique was used for selecting commercials to be content analyzed. The first stage comprised the selection of specific time intervals when ads are broadcasted; two different segments of prime time (prime time I and II) were selected. In the second stage, twenty commercials for food and drinks that were running during the six months’ research period were randomly selected. Regarding the audience sampling, a purposive sampling technique was followed. Audiences categorized to be among the target audiences were purposively selected. The qualitative content analysis of the selected commercials revealed that western values are predominantly recurring themes, rather than more local or traditional themes. A central reason was given by the advertising agencies, which argued that western values were much more powerful and had a more homogenizing effect than the local values. With regard to the audience, it appeared that audiences, regardless of their level of education, are active and powerful in the meaning making process and reshape the content of media messages. The study also explored how external factors like social context, age, marital status, and personal contact are present in the processes of meaning making of ads which reflect either western or traditional Ethiopian values.Item Effectiveness of Health Posters in Awareness Creation and Promoting Behavior Change. A Case Study of UNICEF’s Billboards: Addis Ababa(Addis Ababa University, 2005-12) Lulit Kebede ; Gebremedhin SimonThis study is designed to examine how effectively UNICEF’s billboards in Addis Ababa communicate health message. In other words it looks into whether the billboards are designed in a way the audience understands them. It also explores the strategy employed to design health posters and billboards. Since the major concern of the research is to know how effectively the billboards transmit the intended message towards the audience, 120 respondents are randomly selected as research participants. Questionnaire is used as a major datagathering instrument. Besides, to substantiate the study UNICEF’s communication planners and programme officers as well as health workers in Family Health International (FHI) are purposively selected. Interview is conducted with UNICEF’s communication planners and programme officers while focus group discussion is made among FHI health workers. Accordingly, the data gathered is analyzed by using different methods of data analysis, like: descriptive approach for qualitative data and using frequency and percentage for quantitative data. The result shows that unsuccessful message transmission of UNICEF’s billboards is related significantly with inadequate skill of message designing proficiency of UNICEF’s communication planners. Generally, it is noted that the target audiences have not participated in message designing and in the decision process, which contributes for unsuccessful message transmission. This result of the study, therefore, proves unsuccessful communication flow through UNICEF’s billboards.Item Effects of Satellite Television on Youth in Addis Ababa: A Comparative Study Between Heavy and Light Viewers(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Rahwa Youssuf ; Gebremedhin SimonThis study investigates the “effect of satellite television on the life patterns of youth in Addis Ababa” through survey using Questionnaire and Qualitative individual in-depth interview as a tool of data collection. It targeted 77 youth viewing satellite television aged 15-29 years. The study recorded the respondent’s consumption patterns, level of viewing, preferred channels and programs. It crossed checked the above factors with the level of viewing. The major hypothesis studied was “the greater the exposure to satellite television the greater the impact on the lives of youth.” The sub-hypothesis included ‘heavy viewing has greater effect on their activities, family and social interaction patterns and cultural practices. And they are more influenced by the television characters especially depicting western youth than the light viewers. And it is proved by applying chi-square test that there a significant association between level of viewing and level of effect. The general findings revealed that heavy viewing affected persona activities of the youth like studying, newspaper and book reading, going to local cinema, the meals serving schedule, their interaction with family, friends, neighbors and relatives it also affects the youth style and appearance and heavy viewers show greater change on their cultural practices. The study also identified a few areas for future researchers and made recommendations towards their improvement.Item An Exploration Of Vocabulary Teaching in Primary Schools With Special Reference to Grades One and two(Addis Ababa University, 1998-06) Berhane Achame ; Gebremedhin SimonThe study is carried out in primary schools, which have not been given due attention. More specifically, it attempts to explore the teaching of vocabulary in grades one and two. The subjects of the study, teachers as well as students, are from old and well established government primary schools in Addis Ababa. The data for the study are collected from a questionnaire, classroom observations, interviews and a vocabulary test. First, data are collected from the questionnaire distributed to teachers. Then teachers are interviewed on their use of the different techniques of vocabulary teaching. Subsequently, teachers are observed teaching vocabulary. Students are also asked what their reaction to vocabulary teaching is, after the observations. Finally, students are given a vocabulary test to find out how effective the techniques used by teachers in teaching vocabulary are. The data collected from the questionnaire, the classroom observations and the test are seen in relation to one another to find out which techniques are more frequently used and more effective in teaching the meaning of words in grades one and two. The findings show that pictures, picture cards, blackboard drawings and real objects are more frequented and effective techniques of vocabulary teaching in grades one and two. On the bases of these findings, it is recommended that, since they are teaching young children, teachers in grades one and two should use real objects (realia) as most of the vocabulary items in the syllabi can be better taught this way.Item Historical Analysis of Organizational Structure: The Case Of Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency’s News Center(Addis Ababa University, 2009-06) Almaz Beyene ; Gebremedhin SimonThe Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency redesigns its organizational structure in different times however it is criticized by all stakeholders including the government for its allegedly in efficient and ineffective services. Thus the aim of this paper is to look at the implementation of organizational structure of the Agency and it examines the causes of the over all changes of the structures, the decision making process in the news center , and the influences of the news center’s activity with a focus on the news center management of the Agency. The qualitative research paradigm has been used as a method of study. Since qualitative research is more appropriate to examining words and ideas it is helpful to explaining complex social phenomena. Accordingly, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and participant observations were conducted to explore employees and management views to the operation of the organizational structure. It is known that triangulation helps to avoid a limitation in one method by using another method that is strong in the areas that the first is weak. The researcher also found out that it is important to take the contingency approach and critical theory of communication approach to organization as a theoretical framework. The major findings of the study are indicated that, although the organizational structures have been changed repeatedly; fundamental changes have not been achieved within the news center. Insufficient capacity of journalists and officials, unnecessary bureaucratic system of decision making, and less readiness and commitment of subordinates to assume responsibility are among the main factors that affect the effectiveness of the news center. In view of the fact the Agency has not been cover things based on public interest. Thus, they failed to meet public expectations. Finally, it can be concluded that lack of commitment and insufficient knowledge of officials’ and employees’ are the main factors that affect the effectiveness of ERTA towards meeting public expectations.Item Influence of Editors on Food Security Coverage in The Ethiopian Private Newspapers: Focus on the Reporter, Capital and Fortune Newspapers(Addis Ababa University, 2010-06) Senait Arefaine ; Gebremedhin SimonEthiopia had been facing the challenges of ensuring food security for decades. The challenge is still with us. As a result, programs aimed at poverty alleviation, poverty reduction and food security have been prepared and implemented by successive regimes. The significance of the efforts is such that they deserve the best media coverage they could get – for, the successful implementation of the programs as well as the overall efforts requires that they should be brought to the attention of stakeholders, especially the public. And this is the prerogative of the editors, who determine the content of newspapers. The importance of editors in the press is hard to overemphasize. It is the editors that decide the content of the newspapers and the stories that get published and read by the public. Behind the important roles that the media plays – from informing the public to agenda-setting – there are the editors that do the decisions on what to inform and what kind of agenda to set for the public. The decisions of the editors, in their turn, are shaped by several factors, including beliefs, ideologies and values – personal as well as social. These are among the host of variables that influence the overall perspective of analysis and content of the whole newspaper and individual stories. This study attempts to investigate the factors that promote or hinder the editor form offering the necessary coverage that food security issues deserve. It specifically tried to look into the attitude and knowledge of private newspapers editors.Item Journalists‟ Perception of the Free Flow of Information and their Motivation to Access Information in Contemporary(Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Benti Ejeta ; Gebremedhin SimonFreedom of information is the touchstone of all rights. Obviously, free press is one of the strong and relevant institutions that play major in the promotion of this important. It is very much inconceivable to assert free press without democracy. These curial instruments- democracy and free press- , which is highly regarded in the promotion of freedom of information, are recognized by the constitution of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). However, the practice of free flow of information is not good enough to ensure citizens‟ right to know, participate in decision making process and make informed decisions. Most research findings indicated this is due to the undemocratic principles and practices of the government of Ethiopia. Suggestions had a tendency to lead to the conclusion that government regulates information contrary to the tenets of democratic values. It appeared interesting to investigate whether government, media houses and/or journalists have role in determining the practice of freedom of information. In order to study, qualitative methods of data gathering technical was used throughout the course of the study with a minimal usage of quantitative approach. This research reported that government, media houses and journalists have contributed to the low level of freedom of information practice in Ethiopia. It was found also journalists‟ perception of the practicality of freedom of information contribute to their motivation to access information. To ensure free flow of information, political will of government coupled with strong and independent media houses was recommended.Item Local Media Access and use by the Rastafarian Community in Shashemene(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Addisu Frew ; Gebremedhin SimonThe aim of this study was to find out evidences about local media access and use by the Rastafarian community in Shashemene. It sought to explore and analyze the socia-cultural context of their life in Shashemene through their local media use. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches and employed in-depth interview and self-cnmpletion questionnaire for gathering data from the community membel"s. With this, the study attempted to examine different scholarly observations based on three dimensions: 1) Media access and transplanted people, 2) The audience analysis tradition with focus on culturalist view, 3) The historical background of the Rastafarian community in Shashemene. The combination of these three dimensions helps to shed light on this particular group. Hence, the findings Fom the study indicated that the community members had enough media technology devices/ services which can enable them local media outlets. Due to backward attitudes, local language deficiency, lade of psychological proximity and coverage by the local media; non media sources mmained th.e main source of local information for the community. Local media were sources of need gratification to cultivate children to Ethiopian wa!J of life, to leam local language and to tackle unfamiliarity by the community.Item Media Pluralism and Development in Ethiopia with Special Focus on Religious Media(Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Mohammedaman Nurhussen ; Gebremedhin SimonThis paper examined the interplay between media pluralism and development in Ethiopia with special focus on religious media taking in to consideration the different arguments regarding pluralism of media and development. The study included some concepts regarding media pluralism and theories of religious media in the related literature review part. The study employed qualitative methods both the focus group discussion and the in-depth individual interview tools of data collection using quota non-random sampling method. Open ended questions such as the respondents view on the media pluralism and its role for development were asked for all the respondents in the study. The findings of the study showed that the plural media plays unprecedented role in the development of the country and its people both negatively and positively. The negative effects of the media pluralism on development were suggested merely theoretically. These are creating fear, suspicion and discrimination. Strengthening tensions and fostering stereotypes were also suggested from the negative effect of the media pluralism. However, practical examples regarding the positive contribution of the plural media for development were clearly explained. The creation of job opportunity, the enhancement of democracy, good governance and human right, the role in the elimination of harmful practices, securing women‘s rights, the preserving of the international and inland laws, the promotion of love, respect and peace, the elimination of crimes, corruptions, and injustice were some of the findings written under the positive contribution of the media pluralism for development.Item Orientations of Peace Journalism in Selected Ethiopian Newspapers(Addis Ababa University, 2014-11) Kelali Desalegn ; Gebremedhin SimonThe stud y aims to investigate orientations of peace journalism in se lected newspapers in Ethiopia: Addis Ze men, Reporter (Amharic) and Addis Admass in 2012. Since th e emerge nce of press in E thiopia, media outlets mo stl y serve as a battle field for power elites. The study tries to examine how med ia address peace/conflict in te rm s of their content ori entation and their practitioners ' view towards peace journalism. The study employs Galtung's (1968) peace journ ali sm assumption, w hi ch says that if med ia played a role in promoting war and spre ading violence why would it not contribute to en d vio lenc e and build peace, as it s theoretical framework. It uses both quantitative and qualitative methods. Using multi-sta ge sampling technique 160 conflict/peace related news storie s and ed itorial articl es were found from 66 newspaper issues randomly selected from the three newspapers. The technique used to analyze the stories is content analysis . On the other sid e, in-depth interview was held with 14 purpose ly selected informants. Results of the study reveal that print medi a outlets in Ethi opia pa y little attention to peace oriented issues both in their outputs' (contents') orientation and their practitioners' attitud e toward s peace journalism. Analyzed contents remain more of war oriented, with confl ict affi li ated reporting approach (s tyle) and do minantl y conflict story framing. Most stories investigated are wa r, prop agand a and elite oriented with zero –sum outcomes. The y also concern on single events (incidcnts) havin g visible effects caused by differences amo ng conflicting parties, in a ve ry reactive and partisan manner. In line with this most stories use vilifying language sometimes co ined by few power elites in their reports. Besides, most media practitioners in Ethiopia lack cle ar understanding and enough awarene ss on peace journali sm bas ic concepts. In general the ne wspapers do not look at a departure from the trad ition al (war orie nted) way of covering news stori es. It is concluded that medi a houses themselves have limited conunitment as we ll as intell ec tu al capac ity to develop peace oriente d press.Item The Perception of Religious Institutions on the Freedom of Expression - Article 29(2) and the Broadcasting Proclamation no. 533 Article 23/2007 in Focus(Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Gebru Kahsay ; Gebremedhin SimonThe aim of this study was to investigate the perception of religious organizations on the freedom of expression - Article 29 (2) and the broadcasting proclamation No. 533 Article 23/2007 in focus. The researcher employed qualitative methodology with individual indepth interviews and focus group discussions as data gathering tools. The theoretical framework employed was political economy theory of mass communication. Despite the fact that the Freedom of the Press has been granted as per Article 29 sub article 2 of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority has not allowed religious institutions to own broadcast stations for religious purposes. This research is designed to address the issue of this phenomenon, that is, the religious institutions have not been able to secure the permission to broadcast as per the provisions of the Constitution. The overall finding of this study shows the perception of religious organizations on freedom of expression Article 29 sub article 2 and the broadcasting proclamation No. 533 Article 23/2007 is that they didn't observe the two articles as adversaries. Though the proclamation seems contradictory to that ofthe constitutional right given, since it is done for the safety of the nation, and for peaceful coexistence of the general public because religion is Parisian and if it is allowed there may be attacking one to another, they didn't oppose the restriction and it could not be a barrier for their right to freedom of religious broadcasting. While, with insignificant exceptions; said, while the main objective of religion is to promote positive values to the society, why it is considered as a threat , it raises a question on the blanket prohibition and it is a barrier for our right to the freedom of religious broadcasting.