Attitudes of Journalists Towards The Practices of Sports Coverage in Ethiopian Television
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Television is a key medium for sports coverage; it allows fans to
have instant access to the latest news about their favorite team, sport or
event. Television journalists’ practices in covering sports have received
very little or no attention in academic studies in Ethiopia. For that reason,
this research examines how Ethiopian Television (ETV) sports journalists
give coverage of sports within the context of the tight relationship of sports
and the television media.
In terms of sports reporting, some researchers in Ethiopia have tried
to undertake projects especially in the working practices of some sports
newspapers. However there are no studies on television sports coverage
practices in Ethiopia.
Key research questions that guided the study were: How do
journalists analyze their own work? How was different sports covered?
How do journalists handle conflicting situations between their professional
journalistic responsibilities in covering sports and the interests of major
sport stakeholders? How journalists handle the issue of cheerleading?
What difficulties exist for television journalists in critically reporting on
sports issues?
Qualitative in depth interview method used to explore the attitudes
of television sport journalists. Semi-structured in depth interviews with
sports editors and reporters conducted. The researcher also used
purposive sampling in the selection of informants.
It was discovered that different ethical issues still apply to the
practices of ETV’s sports coverage. Ethiopian television sport journalism is
characterized by uncritical reports. Journalists tend to write stories, which
are exposed to cheerleading and hero-worshipping. According to the group
response continuous pressure and relationship with athletes, owners,
officials and supporters made in depth reporting difficult for ETV sports
journalists. Journalists felt the sport coverage in Ethiopian television
inclined to football and it seems clear that the uneven coverage of different
kinds of sports in ETV might have an effect on the development of other
sports.
Television sports journalists examined a lot of the structures and
practices that shaped television sports texts. According to the opinions,
even though sport is vital in the media in many ways lots of things need to
be corrected in the process of reporting.
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Keywords
The Practices of Sports Coverage in Ethiopian Television