Exploring the Influence of Facebook on Traditional Media in Ethiopia: The Case of Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation
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Date
2024-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate Facebook's impact on Ethiopian traditional media, particularly with regard to information sharing. Using a mixed-methods design, the study's main data-gathering instruments were a survey questionnaire and an in-depth interview. 68 journalists, 45 of whom were men and 23 of whom were women, from EBC's web and television broadcasting divisions participated in the study. There are 28 journalists in the web department of this. Consequently, the results showed that Facebook had a big impact on Ethiopian conventional media and made them adjust to the changing nature of news consumption. Traditional media channels must compete for audience attention as more people rely on Facebook for news updates. Information is usually gathered by journalists from a variety of sources, such as press releases, interviews, social media, and official announcements. of socialThe distinction between content providers and consumers has become more hazy due to the rise of social media platforms, with Facebook being the medium of choice for journalists. In order to overcome the challenges posed by these platforms, conventional media needs to build credibility and trust, make investments in digital innovations and audience engagement, and collaborate with social media companies such as Facebook. Different viewpoints on Facebook's impact over traditional media in Ethiopia are revealed by survey results. About 25% of people think Facebook has a beneficial impact, while 30.9% think it has a negative one. 44.1% of respondents are neutral, suggesting that a variety of variables influence these differing viewpoints. Facebook's engagement with conventional media has benefits and drawbacks. While it increases visibility and reach, there is a chance of false information and fake news, which could compromise Facebook's credibility.
Key words: Facebook, Traditional media, social media
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Keywords
Facebook, Traditional media, social media