Promoting Development Journalism in State Media: The Case of Addis Zemen Newspaper
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Development journalism is a philosophy adopted by the state media in Ethiopia on a ground that
this philosophy would enable the media support development endeavors of the country.
Proponents of development journalism believe that it would playa vital role in fighting povel1y
and invigorating the endeavors of social transformation. Addis Zemen newspaper, Ethiopia's
most aged daily is following this philosophy line.
Documents that reflect the stance of the goverrunent and the editorial policy of the Ethiopian
Press Agency alike stipulate the need to adhere to established professional and ethical principles
in the undertaking of development journalism. In reporting development issues, the media are
expected to be critical, investigative, analytical and interpretive to promote development.
Development wouldn't be measured only in material, statistical and econometric terms it should
also consider human needs, empowerment, participation and self-reliance.
The present study, which touched up on relevant literature and deployed qualitative methods
such as in-depth interviews, tocus group discussions, reviewing of documents and persunal
observations revealed that development reporting in Addis Zemen is commonly goverrunent
centered, uncritical and excessively soft option oriented. The major challenges in covering
development issues, according to the findings of this study, boil down to various factors which
include limitations of individual journalists, inconvenience of institutional atmosphere as well
bureaucratic difficulties in accessing information. Key impeding factors ยท as journali sts are
concerned include but not limited to lack of commitment, inadequate training, self-censorship
and adherence to the legacy of safe reporting. Institutional factors are inattention for rural and
grassroots coverage, inability to ensure editorial independence, poor planning, lack of faci lities
and incentives.
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Keywords
Journalism in State Media, Addis Zemen Newspaper