A Comparative Analysis of Ethiopian Media and Journalists in Transition
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Date
2021-08
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AAU
Abstract
The study focused on a comparative analysis of Ethiopia television media channel and
journalists in transition period. The study specifically focused on the role of media function in
old regime and ongoing regime, press autonomy and freedom, media challenges, journalists‟
professional ethics practice, media watchdog role, and media future development. The study
adopted mixed approach and employed comparative explanatory design in state and private
television media channel. The study employed stratified sampling method to selected 2 state
media channels from 3 and 2 private from 6 media channel. The total population of the study
was 670 (644 state media and 26 private) and 245 participants (227 state and 20 private)
selected by using simple random sampling. Questionnaires and interview were used to gather
data from state and private media. Descriptive statistical techniques were used for data analysis
by using SPSS software version 26. The study found that state media influenced by ruling party
in both regimes than private media. However, the old regime influence media than ongoing
regime. While, there was similar path dependency in state media than private media channels
but press autonomy and freedom seems free in ongoing regime than old regime in both regimes.
In addition, state media channel has been government watchdog and private media channel was
party watchdog and currently convert to government watchdog. The study result illustrated that
media for the future look bright, while have challenges. The main challenge of media was
material and equipment as well as political instability. Generally, media function, ethics, and
press autonomy and freedom were better in ongoing regime than old regime. While, private
media was independent compare to state media in both regimes. Therefore, the results suggest
that media should be break path dependency via media standard function discourse, top
managers of state media should be appointed by merits rather than politically. Government
should be facilitating training for all journalist based on international standard and experience
sharing with developed countries media.
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Keywords
Journalism, media, journalists‟ professional ethics, democracy, authoritarian, state, private, press autonomy and freedom