News Framing Analysis of First Round Filling of GERD: Comparative Study on the Ethiopian Herald, Sudan Tribune and Ahram Online Media Outlets
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Date
2021-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The issue of the GERD has reached its climax when Ethiopia was ready to impound the reservoir
leading the three riparian countries /Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt/ to a new round of intense
debate disagreement and controversy. Taking this crucial historical moment as an interesting
and significant topic of research, this thesis is set out with a key purpose of examining how the
media outlets in the three countries reported and framed issues related to the first round filling
of the GERD. The Ethiopian Herald, Sudan Tribune and Ahram online with their news stories
written from June 1st to July 31st have been examined. Ten news stories from each media outlet
have been studied in conjunction with in-depth interviews and close examination of related
literatures to provide the thesis with additional substance. Theoretical framework utilized for the
study is framing and agenda setting theories. Research findings revealed that the Ethiopian
Herald and Ahram online have reported extensively about the first impoundment of the GERD
than Sudan Tribune. Prominent frames observed in The Ethiopian Herald were Natural rights
frame, exclusion frame and mutual benefit frame. Sudan Tribune has prominently used economic
consequence frame and conflict frame while Ahram online inclined to dominantly utilize historic
rights frame and conflict frame. The issue of the first round filling of the GERD has been
reported and framed in a distinctive manner that goes in line with the interest of their respective
countries and the agenda setting policy of the media outlets in focus. Drawing a
recommendation from the research a couple of reflections has been forwarded for further studies
to be conducted on the issue of the GERD. Impartiality, balance and professionalism have also
been recommended for the three media outlets studied under this research.
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Keywords
GERD, Nile River, Impoundment of the GERD Reservoir, Controversy over the GERD, Blue Nile/Abbay