Examining Ownership and Powerful Actors Influence in Reporting Corruption Issues: The Case of Addis Zemen and Reporter Newspapers
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Date
2019-02
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Corruption is a worldwide phenomenon which affects the socio-economic development and cause of instability in a given country. The consequences of corruption don’t stop in civil unrest; it also affects other socio-political system including the press freedom. Thus, this study was conducted to examine ownership and powerful actors influence in the print media by focusing on reporting corruption issues. To this purpose, Addis Zemen and Reporter were purposively selected representing the state-owned and the private newspapers respectively. Methodologically, the study employed mixed method approach. The study got the advantage of taking the political economy theory of mass media and propaganda model as its theoretical frameworks. The period of study (April 2016-April 2018) was also chosen purposively since there were several incidents with the connection of corruption issues. Similarly, six informants were selected for an in-depth interview with purposive and convenience sampling technique. Accordingly, the data obtained from content analysis, in-depth interviews with 6 informants and the newspaper’s editorial policy with the review of literature were then corroborated and analyzed together for the sake of triangulation. As a result, the study disclosed that the extent of corruption coverage in both newspapers is given very little attention. Almost 92% of sources were government bodies in their coverage. The newspaper's role was to follow-up and highlighting corruption news of government-issued. They were echoes or instrument of government propaganda. Both newspapers did not initialize any reporting on corruption issues. The study also found that the state-owned, as well as the private owners, were discouraging journalists when there is a trial to produce a reporting in corruption issues or investigations. Even they do not give any protections especially in regards to reporting corruption issues.
Government officials were not only badly influencing in the reporting of corruption issues, but also they were denying access to information (information drought), dictating the editorial writings especially in the state-owned Addis Zemen, threatening owners particularly private Reporter and to the extent of life-threatening by government officials. Among corporate institutions; advertisers were directly influencing in corruption reporting. They used criminal defamation and break-up their long-term agreement as a strategy. Real estate owners and NGO’s were affecting the reporting of corruption issues or investigations one way or the other. Others like law enforcement were not also the easiest influencers. For instance, police and anti-corruption agencies mysteriously hide or disappeared corruption cases.
Keywords: media Ownership, Powerful actors, Corruption Issues
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Keywords
media Ownership, Powerful actors, Corruption Issues