Analysis of Environmental Coverage in Addis Zemen Amharic Daily Newspaper
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In Ethiopia, environmental-induced problems are huge and threatening. There is a
common understanding that environmental degradation is partly due to lack of awareness
about the environment. However, studies conducted in Ethiopia on this issue are very
limited. This study has attempted to assess the coverage of environmental issues in print
media. For the study, quantitative and qualitative data were used in combination. Addis
Zemen Amharic daily newspaper was selected for case study, and a sample of 120
editions, evenly distributed across a period of five years (2001-2005), has been analyzed.
Results show that no permanent section was assigned for environment issues and no
reportages, interviews and commentaries were presented on the issue. The limited
available coverage was inconsistent, showing a rising trend in one year and then falling in
another. Scarcity of environmental information, poor information delivery system and
journalists’ lack of the necessary knowledge and training on the concepts of environment
are some of the challenges faced in the environmental reporting. From the results it is
possible to conclude that given the current trend of environmental reporting, the
journalists would remain environmentally illiterate. The study further concluded that
unless environmental awareness is urgently created, public awareness would remain low
and there would be further environmental degradation. Therefore, the study recommends
that measures such as identification of awareness obstacles, setting environment issues as
agenda, training and sensitizing of journalists on environment issues, and enlightened
press management should be given due attention.
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Addis Zemen Amharic Daily Newspaper