Work Allocation of Women Journalists in Amharic News Coverage: The Case of ETV
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Assuring women's equality in different aspect of life is the most senous agenda of the
country. This paper also acknowledges the importance of equitable work allocation of women
journalists in shaping peoples attitude, belief and recognition towards women in general.
Hence, the study mainly examines the status of female journalist work allocation in Amharic
news coverage ofETY.
Critical mass theory and liberal feminist approach comprise the basis for the theoretical part
of the paper. The research mainly center on addressing the type of news themes and stories
often covered by female journalists, the criteria of the newsroom used to give duty for
journalists, female journalist's views towards their assignments in the newsroom and the
views of the editors and the deputy directorate towards female journalists. Dominantly
qualitative research methodology was used. FGD, in-depth interview and archive review
were used as data gathering tools.
As a result, the study indicates that women journalists work allocation are mostly inclined on
soft issues for various reasons, though the numbers of female journalists in the newsroom are
less than half of male journalists.
All interviewed concerned people who have been giving assignments admitted that, in that
location were no fixed and written criteria to assign journalists to cover both hard and soft
news but there was a dependency on few male journalists. Lack of journalism knowledge and
experience of supervisors is mentioned as one of the reasons for their inequitable work
allocation because most of them have wrong perception for different news stories that male
are perfect on hard topics. The research also finds out that the newsroom didnt arrange
sufficient training opportunity which helps for the enhancement of women's journalist's
knowledge and ski ll in relation to their lack. Tn the current set up women journalist did not
face sexual harassment, however, they are tied with fear of sexual harassment by
remembering stories which are happened against women journalist some years ago.
Moreover. women journalists who have got married and have children are trapped by various
domestic and family responsibilities and these conditions limit their potential and interest in
taking responsibilities of covering most serious hard topics.
Based on the findings, the researcher suggests some possible recommendations to resolve
identified problems: the newsroom management should list down justified and reasonable
criteria. Also newsroom management should consider journalists, educational discipline
besides the status of their education otherwise they should give sufficient and helpful
trainings to fill the gaps between their educational knowledge and assignments which are
given to them.
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Keywords
Work Allocation, Women Journalists, Amharic News