Practice of Peace Journalism in Ethiopian Media: In the Case of Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation
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Date
2021-11
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AAU
Abstract
The history of Ethiopia and conflict has a long tied relationship. Following this many casualties,
destructions, deaths have been recorded. The cause of conflicts may be political, economic, or
religion driven. Recently those conflicts were provoked through media intentionally or
unintentionally. Now a day‟s media is expected beyond the traditional excepted role of media,
like advocacy, entertainment, information or infotainment. Therefore this study designed to
evaluate the extent of the practice of peace journalism in Ethiopian media in the case of the
Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation. To meet the main objectives of the Thesis, three main
research questions wereset. To what extent the coverage of EBC News dominated whether peace
or war journalism approaches during conflict reporting? Is there any tendency to exercise peace
journalism in Ethiopia as an alternative media approach? What is the implication of the Media
towards using or not using the concept of peace Journalism in reporting conflict? In this study,
quantitative content analysis has been employed y to answer the research questions and
following the result with sequential research design qualitative presentation used to answer why
Questions through interview with News Editors. , Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) is
subject of the study with the sample taken During October 25/2013 E.C unto November 24/ 2013
E.C.During the time frame, 90 (3 news stories each day) News stories were selected to be
studied.Framing theory and Johan Galtung classification of elements of Peace Journalism and
War Journalism have been taken as a theoretical framework.The study found reports are more
focused on visible effects of the war over invisible effects of the war. The reports dominantly take
officials as news sources and press releases from the Government officials, which mean the
approach was elite oriented, not people-oriented. Then News reports reverberate differences of
parties not maintain agreement by mentioning common grounds. In the criteria of the depth of
the report, many reports are paying attention to here and now stories over addressing the
Causes and consequences of war. And also the following style dichotomizes the Good and bad,
which is the identity of the war Journalism Approach. The concerns of the stories majorly focus
on two-part rotations and partisan which means lean to one side and about worried about the
winning of one side which is known as „‟Zero-sum‟‟ orientation, reports are not trying to foster
„‟win-win Approach of both parties. Related to language usage, reports are not trying to avoid
victimizing, demonizing, and emotive languages on the reverse they are using it frequently.
Generally, the reports were dominantly traditional war Journalism approach oriented.
Bylooking at the overall findings, the study also sketches out the likely useful and theoretical
suggestionsin the Ethiopian media, and the media and conflict reporting.
Description
Keywords
War journalism, Peace journalism, Framing, conflict reporting