Deccan Review (ISSN 2278-506X) Volume I Issue II July-August 2012
Development Journalism and its Challenges in Ethiopia
Mr. Abdulaziz Dino
Dr. Julia Devardhi
Dr. Deepika Nelson
School of Foreign language studies
Haramay a University, Ethiopia
Introduction
Development Communication Instigated Development Journalism
The concept ’dev elopment’ has not been such undemandi ng for instant definition. As variously perceived, it
has been differently valued and, then, described by individuals from different areas of expertise, experience,
intellect and different lev els of ‘development’ itself. As for the value of l atest arguments, it sounds logical to
emphasize more on recent scholarly views. Moemeka (1994:11) argues that dev elopment is not only what
many view as a change in the economic, technological or a mere material aspect. It is also a change in the
peopl e’s mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual intelligences. More importantly, it is a matter of increased
knowledge and skills, growth of new consciousness, expansion of th e human mind, the uplifting of the human
spirit, and the fusion of human confi dence.
The world is in a dynamic pace of socio-economic, political, and cultural transformation. The media industry
has fundamentally contributed for this swift change. However, it has not been easy for third worl d nations to
connect to this dynamic rate of global transformation. In the third world, the effects of colonization, lack of
good governance, seri es of civil wars and natural disasters have often stood as the foremost features that
have blocked s uccessful national cooperation for sustai nabl e development, and hence, caused
underdevelopment.
Development of the communication as pect hence has become uncompromising sort of preliminary gateway
for long run solutions of developi ng countri es. Communication in the context of development is the
application of effective communication s trategies in the practice of development (Chandra R. 2004:214,
Moemeka 1994:12 & Negussie T. 2008:6). So, development communication has been exceedingly
distinguished as fundamental element in the campaign for sustainable development. The view of participation
has also potenti ally remained at the center of effective development. It is also proved that communication is
an indispens able tool for participation. Thus, communication for dev elopment has been broadly recognized
as to achi eve the maximum possible nationwide participation in development (Dejene et al., 2007:25).
Development communication has its origi n in post war international aid programs to countri es in Latin
America, Asia and Africa which were struggling against pov erty, illiteracy, poor health and lack of economic,
political and social infrastructures (Chandra, 2004: 214). Series of discussions and actions on dev elopment
communication, later, insti gated the view of ‘development journalism’ as an anticipated tool to catalyze
development efforts of developi ng nations (Susanne, 2005). Negussie Teffera (2008:7) also emphasizes that
in most developing countries the media bec ame the most powerful instrument to educate, to inform and to
encourage peopl e to build a nation in which spiri tual richness and materi al comfort can exist in equilibrium.
Hence, the major criterion by which the general public evaluates the media outputs becomes the extent of
thei r influence on society, or in other words, their educational value.
The journalistic concept dealing with development through communication has been called ‘development
journalism’ (Susanne, 2005). It is a newly introduced concept and practice to the world of journalism, and
hence, to the world of dev elopment. The rise of the concept is highly attached to the development of theori es
of dev elopment communication (Banda, 2007:154). In effect, development journalism emerged in the early
1960’s with the primary aim of enhancing development for the dev eloping world (D ejene et al, 2007:24).
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In Asia and Africa development journalism is carri ed out wi th a primary purpose of exhaus tively reporting on
series of development efforts and achievements as per the gov ernment policies and strategi es . Ramapras ad &
Kelly (2003:312) expl ain that the role of development journalism from the point of view of developing world
is characterized in the following ways:
Giving priori ty to the coverage of dev elopment policies and projects.
Discussing development issues regularly.
Ensuring cov erage of rural issues.
Using the medi a to advance the social development of the country.
Using the medi a to be spokesperson for the deprived classes of the citizen.
Carefully examining gov ernment national development policy.
Objectively reporting on national development programs and projects.
Critically evaluating development projects and efforts.
Using news as a social good.
According to D ejene, et al (2007:24) development journalism largely aspires to pull nations out of pov erty
and backwardness. In particul ar, it aims to enable people achi eve behavioral change and psychosocial
consciousness so that they can analyze the genuine context they are presently living in, as well as, the future
of their fate. For that reason, dev elopment journalism not only provides people with the information, it points
out how to resolve problems as well as maintain the s ustainability of the resolutions. By facilitating free flow
of public opi nions, it attempts to secure the human di gnity, the ri ght to equal participation in dev elopment
efforts, and equal consumption in development outcomes. Again, development journalism intends to create
communication based public-to-public and public-to-gov ernment bond for a coordinated dev elopment
endeavor, harmonizing the publics’ and the gov ernment’s hands in development efforts.
Certainly, it is the notion of development journalism that journalists share a fundamental portion of
responsibility in a country’s substantial development. Thus, the practice of quality dev elopment journalism
required development journalists’ deliberate version of optimistic attitude, prolonged passion, and practical
engagement. In fact, all these could be affected by the sum of values given to dev elopment journalism and
development journalists.
Detailed Account of the Problem
The Ethiopian state-owned broadcas t medi a have been highly emphasizing the notion of dev elopment
journalism on the basis of the country’s development demands, and the gov ernment’s development policies
and strategies. Accordingly, there are extensive efforts by the state-owned broadcast media to cover multi-
phas e development activities throughout the country. Development journalists are thus oriented wi th an
expectation to exert the highes t possible commitment i n the practice.
In spite of the media’s functional emphasis to development journalism, the acceptability and the ways of
implementation of the principles of development journalism by the media as a whol e and by dev elopment
journalists in particul ar remai ned argumentative. Development journalists have been considered to be
deficient in the reflective understanding of the concepts of ‘development’ a nd ‘development journalism’. This,
in turn, is believed to affect their optimistic perception of development journalism as an essential principle.
Also, there hav e been series of interrelated arguments concerni ng dev elopment journalists’ own professional
role perception, their functional inspiration, as well as their competence in the practice of dev elopment
journalism. As a central aspect of development journalism in Ethiopia, rural dev elopment reporting has been
often noticed as the primary sufferer of all these conceptual and practical deficiencies. D ejene (2007:35) also
argues that the current practice of development journalism in Ethiopi a does not reflect the true phases of the
principles.
Specifically, development journalists are believed to lack creative efforts in making thei r works more
attractive and inspiring; despi te inspiring is one of the fundamental notions of dev elopment journalism.
Birhanu (2009:44) cri ticizes, “…they start by what is said by whom and quote paragraph after paragraph
from the speech by using the golden link of ‘says’.” News reports and other programs lack variety in terms of
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thei r content and s tyle of presentation. In addi tion to redundancy in language and approach, interviews get
already responded by journalists themselves -intervening. Lack of visual concept, visual illiteracy, is another
insufficiency among several broadcast journalists. Other problems, according to Bi rhanu, include topic
redundancy and mi xtures, absence of need assessment, lack of productivity evaluation, lack of skill in the
application of archive materials, and abs ence of team spiri t.
All these conceptual and practical controversies call for systematic investigation in state-owned broadcast
media i n particular. The practice of development journalism in Ethiopia has not been as such assessed and
articulated as much as it is emphasized particularly by the public sector media. Hopefully, this paper would
throw more light on the contribution to the adv ancement of the practice of development journalism in
Ethiopia, and assess the lev el of recognition as well as the practical emphasis given to the practice of
development journalism. To comprehend the ground reality a few vital details of the historical route of
development journalism in Ethiopia, and Ethiopian gov ernment’s development policy is crucial.
Development Journalism As Initiated In Ethiopia
In Ethiopia the essence of mass media has been recognized as far back as a century. Birhanu (2009:1) states
that the introduction of ‘Aemi ro’ newspaper, which was handwritten at its commencement, in 1902 heralded
the begi nning of journalism in Ethiopia. Dejene et al. (2007: 35) finds out that the Ethiopi an radio was
established in 1935, the Ethiopian News Agency in 1942, and the Ethiopian Television in 1965. That means
the development of these four major medi a agencies has taken a century.
However, the media has been greatly shaped by the needs and interests of the governments in power. They
used it to emphasize their ideological orientations (Birhanu 2009:4). During Hailesilassie’s regime the media
was used to preach the prominence of the monarch and his subordinates. The Derg had also sought the media
to initiate public support for communism (Dejene et al, 2007:35).
The introduction of the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary and D emocratic Front (hereafter, EPRDF) was a
historical landmark in the recognition and promotion of the basics of media in Ethiopia (Birhanu 2009:4). In
1992 freedom of the press and access to information were declared. Any irrational form of government
censorship was declared to end. Subsequently, regional print and broadcast media were encouraged and
supported, in addition to the ones under the federal government.
To utilize these l egal opportunities, prominent Ethiopian media agencies such as Radio Ethiopi a, Ethiopian
News Agency, Ethiopian Tel evision, and Ethiopian Press Agency have been attempting to upgrade the science
of communication in Ethiopia. These agencies have been developing their own structural basis, thei r own
missions, policies and strategies. In one or another way thei r strategies greatly emphasized in teaching and
inspiring the public to participate in its own development, to assist the notions of equal opportunity and
equal advantage in development, and to protect national consensus and dignity( Dejene et al, 2007:35).
The aims of thes e chi ef media agencies are then no ticed as compatible with the aims of dev elopment
journalism. As a result, it is anticipated that thes e media agencies could enhance national development efforts
by the implementation of suitable development journalism (Dejene 2007:35). In fact, Dejene emphasizes, this
mission demands to overcome two basic challenges ; one is the accurate coverage of the country’s national
development plans and efforts, and the other is careful application of a fair development journalism.
Ethiopian Government’s Development Policy
Agricul ture as the rock-bed of Ethiopia’s economy employs about 85% of the entire popul ation. It generates
45-50% of the total GDP, and it supplies 70% of the raw material required by both heavy and medium scale
industries. Moreover, nearly 90% of the country’s foreign currency comes from the export merchandized
trade of agricultural products (MOI, 2004:71).
More than 55 million of the Ethiopian population lives in the rural areas taking subsistence agriculture as
basis of their lives. Nevertheless, the rural population is poor in infrastructure, and the agricultural activity is
highly dependent on annual rainwater and i t is sufferi ng from traditional methods of farming. It largely lies in
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the hands of small– scale individual farmers who make use of v ery littl e agricultural inputs. Thus, the
production rate has been very low (MOI, 2004:70).
The government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, thus, adopted in 1994 a strategy and policy
that focused on the dev elopment of the agricultural sector and the rural communi ty (MOI, 2008:10).The
strategy is commonly known by the name ALID (Agriculture Led Indus trial Dev elopment).In fact, ALID was
launched as a systematic direction for the economic dev elopment of the country considering the impact that
the agricultural sector coul d hav e in the development of urban industri es.
The gov ernment’s decentralization strategy was also the upshot of its rural and agricultural dev elopment
policy. In Ethiopia, decentralization to regional states was first introduce d in 1991 with the transitional time
charter up on the establishment of federal system of gov ernment. The transition time charter was replaced by
the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in 1994 further consolidating the federal
arrangement. Taking another step, the government has recently embarked on decentralization to district
level as per the Ministry of Capacity Building, (2005).
Ethiopia’s development journalism document
Yet ungratified but used officially, the 48pages, Ethiopian development journalism policy document
interrogates “philosophical and operational” issues. Ethiopia might be the only African country wi th such a
policy document (Skjerdal, 2011).
This policy document defines dev elopment journalism as,
Development journalism is a journalism that makes people understand, accept and actively
participate in the impl ementation of appropriate development ideas that may extricate people from
poverty and backwardness by bringing about rapid national change and building on positive values
of development and democratic change. (Ethiopian policy document on development journalism, EPA
2008) in Skjerdal (2011).
Positive success stories and positive promotion of development are the pillars of Ethiopia’s Policy Document
on Development Journalism. The Document and internal administrative rules advocate the application pro -
government, pro-development news reports. Accordingly, it is the journalists’ duty to ‘critically examine and
evaluate the relevance of a development project to national and local needs, the difference between a pl anned
scheme and its actual implementation, and the difference between its impact on peopl e as claimed by
government officials and as it actually is’ (Aggarwala 1979: 181).
Discussion
Relevance of Practicing Development Journalism
Development journalism comprises the reporti ng on ideas, programmes, activities and ev ents, which are
related to an improvement of the living standard, mainly in the rural regions. Developing countri es urgently
need to come out of underdevelopment. Ini tially, their problem was thought to be lack of information, or lack
of global experi ence-modernization (Servaes, 2002:19-20 & Chandra 2004:217). Subsequently, the issue of
dependent development has been raised as a developmental impediment -dependency. Later, the most
current philosophy, participation, has emerged as the promotion of local peoples’ engagement in their
development within their own context.
Development journalism, later, ros e as a combined effect of all the three paradigms : Modernization, in a
form of informing local citizens about the global effective dev elopment experiences; dependency, in a form
of inspiring citizens for national unity and self rule; and participatory, in a form of inspi ring the peopl e to
take part i n dev elopment projects undertaken in their villages.
Susanne (2005) also notes that because poverty conti nues to pose a threat to millions of people, jour nalists
have no choice but to continue reporting development issues and its impact on peopl e. Development
journalism of today must be able to examine and explain the new face of development that has transformed
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itself into a trans-border affair, involving various players aside from the state, and relating to several
complexities.
Radio Ethiopian development journalists optimistically jus tify the relevance of the practice of dev elopment
journalism. The following comment from a young news reporter, for ins tance, depicts his exclusive agreement
in the essence of the philosophy:
Ethiopia is a developi ng country. And, I argue development journalism should be practiced by
the media in the dev eloping countries. Our economy is based on agriculture. Thus, the media
should strive to introduce new agricultural techniques and technologies, and the way how it is
effectively consumed by farmers of one or other regions (REJ7, 03/0510).
There are functional agreements among Radio Ethiopi an journalists on the idea that the dev elopment efforts
that have been started shoul d be enhanced wi th the help of the media. Correspondingly, managing edi tor of
news and current affairs (REJ3) stresses the essence of practicing development journalism:
I think our chief agenda is distinctively known. And, that is poverty. The government, through
the policy of the Agriculture Led Industrialization, is striving to eradicate that. The better way
to implement government’s anti-poverty campaigns is thus through the media. We are
working wi th this line of i ntention. Our aim is jus t “scaling up”-shari ng good experiences to
our target listeners (29/04/10).
Another development news reporter, REJ13 (07/05/10), shares nearly the same view “Ethiopi a is poor and a
multi-ethnic nation, it is a dev eloping s tate. In my view, therefore, dev elopment journalism could be very
relevant here.” In one way or another, however, journalists agree on technical failures in the actual
implementation of the practice (REJ3, REJ4, and REJ5).
In fact, Ethiopia owns massive population wi th diverse geographical, ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural
enti ties, and thes e mean diverse perceptions and needs. Thus, unarguably some sort of extra power is
required to facilitate these different perceptions and needs, to reach the farthest geographical areas, to create
national cons ensus, to teach tolerance and to integrate all. This extra i nstrument must be nothing but an
influential mass media. Such a media then should play a number of mutually inclusive roles by means of
teaching, informing, entertaining, and mediating citizens.
A deliberate media can bring massive economic and social changes by teaching productive ways of
developmental business processing, technology consumption, as well as tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Its inspirational role could be through screening out active development subjects (agents) wi th outstanding
achievements. Yet again, that media is required to bridge government–public joint cooperation by addressing
government development strategies and efforts, and most significantly, by accentuating community opinions
at all development s tages (pl anni ng, implementation, and utilization).
Development Journalists’ Perception of Development Journalism
Governments in some countries ac cused those who criticized development journalism as protecti ng capi -
talistic interests. On the other hand, critics of government-ini tiated development journalism claimed that the
concept would set a limit to media freedom and obstruct independent media from serving the pub lic interes t,
which after all was its primary task (Susanne, 2005).
Moemeka (1994:4) shows that development journalism should apply the communication science for political
integration as a prerequisite for successful democracy. In effect, this could be realized by encouraging public
participation via free public reflections on government policies and strategies. Dejene et al (2007:30) also
stress the functional emphasis that development journalism must investigate the destructive versions of the
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projects, corruption, mismanagement, project failures or delays, the amount of resources assigned and
consumed throughout the cours e of action, and the proper functioning of completed projects.
However, as far as the Ethiopian experience is concerned, the philosophy of development journalism has been
initiated and intens ely emphasized only after the introduction of the EPRDF into power (Dejene et al.,
2007:35). It is practiced largely from the developi ng world’s point of view which is prioritizing government
development efforts and achievements (various personal interviews). In this respect dev elopment reporters
in Radio Ethiopia seem to value the educative and inspirational aspects of the practice.
For me, development reporting is optimistically reporting on important development efforts,
mainly on their successful sides, so that others can share that experience. It is also a practice of
pushing out or inspi ring citizens to support development efforts (REJ5, 30/04/10).
Another reporter (REJ6) describes development journalism as an art of communication introduced for the
sake of solving problems of the developing world (03/05/10). Similarly, a senior reporter (REJ7) explai ns
with a tone emphasizing its criticality for dev eloping countri es:
Development journalism is a sort of journalism, which I believe should be implemented by
developing countries whos e long-run goal is development and whose current objectives are
working for that. Its aim is facilitating the transfer of best developmental experiences from
one part of the nation to the other. That must be by reporti ng s uccessful stories with a special
emphasis on what had been the reality in that particular area before, and what has then got
changed due to what.
The dev elopment journalism of Radio Ethiopia is also associated with prioritizing rural and agricultural
development efforts as per the country’s development policy. In this regard series of practical emphasis is
given to the coverage of seasonal agricultural activities’ progresses, as termed by REJ1 (29/04/10) as a ‘crop
calendar’ which is planned coverage of seasonal agricultural activities.
In the analysis of journalists’ perceptions, we find only few who v alue development journalism as for i ts
criticalities, in spite of its function of sustaining strengths and cri ticizing weaknesses. Otherwise, how would
policy makers know if they have to make modifications (FGD1, 29/04/10).
Yet, the issue of minimizing harm (i n its uncommon version) is emphasized by a veteran editor in Radio
Ethiopia (REJ11, 07/05/10). He contends,
Most often, there are harmful sides of development activities. Look, for instance, huge
numbers of residents get thrown out of thei r home while a road is built in a city. In fact, road is
a cruci al development element, y et damaging sides are also inevitable. However, the harm
shall be minimized as much as possible. Hence, development journalism must also report on
the depth of thes e harmful stori es. The public should know where thos e people in that city are
taken to, and how they are living now. That is a development journalism which I believe is
more accountable.
Roles of Development Journalists
Certainly, the role perceptions affect the functions of individuals. Roles and functions of a dev elopment
journalist in a developing country would likely be affected by the country’s dev elopment policies indirectly
via media editori al policies. Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency’s Edi tori al Policy Paper (2005:30 -40)
guides that government medi a shall:
Support or facilitate the efforts of sustainable democracy that are based on free public
participation.
Give enormous coverage to social development strategies and policies - health, education,
harmful tradi tion, gender equality, children, and elders.
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Give prior coverage to economic development projects in all their planning, processes and
endi ng stages, including thei r essence in a way that would inspire others for national
development,
Give coverage to non-governmental development activities again at their beginning, ongoing and
endi ng stages after checking their licenses and developmental effects.
Hence, the development journalists perception in Radio Ethiopia s eems, by and large, the role of addressing
government dev elopment priorities; functioning as facilitators of government development efforts and
achievements.
A senior reporter and edi tor at the English news desk of Radio Ethiopia (REJ2) emphasizes that almost all of
his professional activities go wi th the way the media orients him to do:
The agency has its own system of functioning. It follows a development journalism approach.
So, the reports should necessarily focus on development issues, and particularly rural and
agricultural development (29/04/10).
But the ques tion is ‘how do you do it’; by applying a positive tone with no critics, positive tone with some
amount of constructive comments or positive and negative tendencies proportionally. In essence, however,
aspects of unsuccessful project such as ‘what has not been done’, ‘what should have been done in what better
way’, and ‘who should hav e done it’, and others must add up to development reports. In other words, the
reports shall necessarily include what has not been done at leas t as equal ly as what has been done for the
peopl e by the gov ernment.
Development journalists’ rol e perception mani pulates their practice. Specifically, the rules journalists are
guided by affects their way of handling professional careers. Ethiopian development jou rnalists’ role
perception inclines toward backing government’s development intentions and attempts. Indeed, there is
much expectation that development journalists from any point of view should distinguish themselves as
active stakeholders in the course of national development campai gns. They need to dev elop as much self-
esteem as they are authori tative ministers of development: as the ones who could s ave millions or, otherwise,
the ones who could leave millions to die.
Challenges of Development Reporting
Competence is compulsory to any media practitioners. Being labeled as a part of national development plan
requires being someone more than a common journalist. A dev elopment journalist must be exceptionally
capable of showing national responsibility and p rofessional maturity in the reports.
In the Ethiopi an public sector broadcas t media, development reports, and particularly rural dev elopment
reports hav e been subject to various cri ticisms. They were commonly raised for lack of adequate background
research, content and style redundancy, and heavy reliance on official statistics, and officials’ statements.
Radio Ethiopian dev elopment journalists have nearly similar observations with regard to the quality of
development reports in the media. One newsroom editor reflects his concern about the troubles of the
reports:
Development reports are commonly boring to urban audiences because there is high amount of
redundancy in the reports. The reports are also criticized for having a propaganda tone than a news
style. Thus, there are tendencies to l abel the practice of development journalism as exclusively
supporting the government (REJ4, 29/04/10).
There are also reflective inclinations elevated enough to judge that there is no real development journalism in
Ethiopia. The facts presented to jus tify this position are that there are lots of dev elopments and lots of
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development failures in the country. But, the medi a emphasizes on successful dev elopments only. In this
regard journalists are also accountable. Of course, th e issue of self-censorship has become a prominent threat.
As journalists are indirectly restricted by it, they remai n highly skeptical (FGD5, 10/05/10).
Freedom of Information and the Right to Know: Access to Information in African Countri es (a s eminar held in
Harare, Zimbabwe on July, 1996) identifies :
By far the most important way in which a journalist can be restricted is through self -
censorship. The news desk does not encourage journalists to interview peopl e whose views
are known to cause offence to the authoriti es; the editor becomes an expert i n knowing which
legal restriction will prevent each investi gation. Ev entually, the shackles are in the head, and
the journalists become content wi th interpreti ng official handouts, while the senior “experts”
repeat the official line in full, giving only coded hi nts about dissenting voices.
The most serious weaknesses during development reporting in Radio Ethiopi a reflected during the group
discussions are:
1. Journalists’ own laziness in exploring the truth from different possible angles.
2. Lack of openness and conveni ence from the public in giving information. The public attitude toward
the medi a is not much optimistic. They prefer their voices or pictures not to be exposed on the media.
There are also many holidays a month, and other inconv eniences.
3. Lack of adequate material from the media including trans portation or fuel, cameras, and incentives
such as per diem are common problems (FGD2, 30/04/10).
Birhanu (2009:90) finds out that Ethiopian journalists lack professional competence to indulge in in-depth
treatment of a particular case and to uncover the truth without being scared of its consequences. A reflection
from a Radio Ethiopian journalist is:
There are clear problems in the techniques of development journalism in Ethiopia. For
instance, there are frequent cases of attributing local district public relations officials for the
rural and agricultural reports (REJ4, 29/04/10).
The issue of balance and fairness has also been another area of failure in radi o Ethiopia regardless of
Kasoma’s (2000:184) view that “Journalism ethics is the soul and heart of the profession; without it
journalism is dead” (i n Birhanu 2009:238). To this respect, REJ7 (03/05/10) refl ects, “I cannot say we are
reporting failures as much as we are reporting on successful aspects”.
Lack of need assessment, creativity and pre-broadcast evaluation are among the problems of broadcast
reports in Ethiopia (Bi rhanu 2009:58). Journalists lack pre-res earch; yet, unless they do some amount of pre-
report survey, it would be difficult for them to identify and concentrate on significant aspects of the story
(REJ13, 07/05/10).
All failures in the practice of development journalism cannot be attached only to the media, or to the
government. Journalists also share significant amount of the failures. They prefer to be on the s afer side, or
they are very skeptical. They do not want to touch serious aspects of critical issues. This is largely due to the
psychology of self censorship (FGD1, 29/04/10). As an attempt of arbitration, Birhanu (2009:247) sugges ts
that journalists can create variety at least i n the style of presentation when similar issues needed to be
pres ented, or they can hav e a chance to treat them in other genres of journalism.
Conclusion
Today, the philosophy of dev elopment journalism is supposed to inspire all reporting activity in the Ethiopian
state media. The purpose of the research has been to examine the overall acceptability and the way of
implementation of development journalism by Radio Ethiopi a in general, and by dev elopment journalists in
particular. It also attempts to examine major challenges throughout the practice of development journalism.
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The study focus ed on Radio Ethiopia which is considered to be one of the most development journalism
practicing media in Ethiopia. Accordingly, the study has found out the following major findings.
There is inclination among development journalists to associate the basics of development more with
material elements such as economic growth and personal income. The view that development must be
understood with its human change aspect has not been as much refl ected. Such a conceptual inclination
would have an indirect effect on journalists’ conceptual implication to development journalism, and then on
thei r practical intentions and actions.
Development journalism as perceived and practiced in Radio Ethiopi a inclines toward promotion of
development efforts, and i nspiring and integrating the public for national development. Further analysis of
the conceptual make-ups of dev elopment journalists in Radio Ethiopia insti gates a new conceptual credit
‘Government Journalism’. The sort of ‘journalism’ perceived here is that it is the art of addressing government
policies and strategies, government project i ntentions, progresses and achievements. This role perception has
not been observ ed with an adequate s pace to conscious public engagement and criticality in scrutinizing
project defects such as mismanagement, corruption, delays, failures, harmful sides of dev elopment projects,
as well as further functioning of completed development projects. But if development journalism is observed
as ‘Government Journalism’, ‘is development exclusively a function of a government?’ This raises another
question of active public involvement in its own development.
There is agreement among media practi tioners on the essence of applying development journalism for
Ethiopia. The arguments are more on the technical perfections than the philosophical grounds of the
relevance of development journalism. It is a kind of common understanding by the medi a and journalists that
the country is just a developing country so, the attention of the public and the government has to focus on the
country’s dev elopment. However, the relevance of development journalism should be internalized by the
maximum possible development stakeholders then i t can ini tiate further construction and recons truction of
the technical aspects of the practice.
The role perception of development journalists in Radio Ethiopia largely goes with their perception of the
role of development journalism, and which is the one largely accredited by the media. The functions of
development journalists are, in turn, affected by their role perceptions. Thus, thei r functional emphasis goes
in line wi th creating awareness on the public about gov ernment policies, development efforts and
achievements.
But, in the cours e of realizing the notion of dev elopment journalism, journalistic incompetence remai ned a
prominent challenge. Dev elopment reports are typically criticized for lack of creativity, adequate background
research, content and style redundancy, and heavy reliance on official statistics and officials’ phrases.
Additionally, the deadlines given to them prevent them from conducting a thorough inves tigation. Thus once
more, reporters largely rely on official suggestions for what and how to feed their reports, which indisputably
breaks the prominent journalistic codes of ethics.
Development journalists are under serious deficiency of the fundamental knowledge and skills of
development journalism. They have not yet internalized the critical features of the practice, and are
unconcerned about professional ethics such as balance and acting i ndependently. They do not understand the
media edi torial policy as much as they are required to, and are unable to implement the principl es
communicated via the editorial policy. Finally, development journalists lack sufficient knowledge of the
country’s development policies and strategies.
In principle development journalism is not government journalism. It is rather development journalism
where there is high lev el public awareness and engagement, journalistic criticality and creativity, as well as
transparency and accountability on the government side. Therefore, development journalists need to know
not only the promotional roles of development journalism, but even most significantly the cri tical aspect of
the philosophy even from the third world’s poi nt of view.
List of References
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Deccan Review (ISSN 2278-506X) Volume I Issue II July-August 2012
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