Analysis of Investigative Reporting Practices In Ethiopia: The Case of Etv “Aynachin Program”
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Date
2024-04
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study examined investigative journalism techniques used by state media while taking Ethiopian Television (ETV) into consideration. Ten key informant interviews, a questionnaire-based survey of 77 samples, and a study of relevant literature were used to gather data. The questionnaire-based survey's respondents were chosen using web panel sampling and voluntary sampling, two suitable non-probability sampling methods. The questionnaire-based survey revealed that 83% of participants felt investigative journalism was improperly practiced by ETV, while only 17% disagreed.
Investigative reporting is inconsistent and irregular, according to more than 60% of respondents. The vast majority of respondents—both journalists and viewers—stated that the content was of poor quality, frequently perceived as a tool for official propaganda, and less focused on covering important subjects of public interest. Due to all of these factors, the audience's satisfaction with the caliber and reliability of investigative reports was remarkably poor. It was discovered that internal and external impact is one of the main factors among the various obstacles. More than half of those surveyed said that needless intervention and political influence have a detrimental impact on investigative reporting.
Other contributing problems include the dearth of investigative journalism, the absence of security for journalists, resource constraints, political unpredictability, and a lack of enthusiasm and skills (29.6%) in the field. Fear and a lack of a supportive workplace are two further issues that journalists brought up during the study. The research suggested that ETV enhance its internal processes for investigative reporting while simultaneously advocating and lobbying to lessen and handle external issues. These suggestions cover developing capacity, exchanging experiences and learning from others, facilitating policy framework discussions, influencing public opinion and increasing awareness, promoting media freedom, creating a supportive atmosphere, and guaranteeing accountability for ethical reporting at all levels.
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Ethiopian Television (ETV)