Assessment of News Source Usage: among State and Private Print Media in Ethiopia a Comparative Analysis of Addis Zemen and Reporter
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Date
2019-11
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AAU
Abstract
This study was an assessment of News Source Usage: among State and Private print Media in Ethiopia; which is a comparative analysis of Addis Zemen and Reporter Newspapers. To achieve this objective, the researcher used both qualitative and quantitative descriptive research design. The researcher used questionnaires and relevant documents to collect primary and secondary data from the data sources. The main of data were news stories published in the two Newspapers during June-August, 2010 E.C. Journalists and editors were selected purposively, while systematic random samplings were employed to pick the news stories. Content analyses were made to each news in the sample and data regarding various categories of news sources were tallied and recorded. Descriptive percentage analysis and chi-square tests were performed to compare news source usage practices by the two newspapers. In dependent sample t-test was also employed two compare the practice of news source usage of the newspapers as rated by their respective journalists/editors.
Both media were found to have used human source as their major sources of news. The usage of other sources were emphasized differently between state and private media; where state media were somewhat better in using nongovernmental sources, and addressing the issues from independent institutions. The two newspapers were found to have covered the entire news category; although the newspapers have different level of consideration of each news topics. The state media had much higher coverage of social services; while the environment topic was have much better covered in the private media. Records and document usage as sources of fully attributed news were used more frequently in the state media. However, private media was relatively much better than the state media in usage of multiple sources.
On the basis of these findings, recommendations to review editorial policy, fully attributing news and having reporters across the world were made to Addis Zemen Newspaper. The reporter Newspaper was recommended for proportional coverage of all news categories, and usage of non-governmental institutions, and usage of document archives. Moreover, a concerted effort between the state and private media regarding news sources usages, and draw a strategic media relation plan for a win-win situation and uphold professionalism.
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News Sources Usage, Private and Government Newspaper