THE PRACTICE OF DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM IN

ETHIOPIA: THE CASE OF FANA BROADCASTING

CORPORATE’S UMMANNII MAAL JEDHA? (UMJ)

INVESTIGATIVE RADIO PROGRAM

Ameyu Etana

Graduate student of school of Journalism and

Communication, Addis Ababa University

Located at Addis Ababa; off King George and Algeria Streets

© Ameyu Etana, May 2014 Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Email: ameyuetana@gmail.com

Abstract

This mini-research was aimed at examining the practices and challenges of development journalism (DJ) in

Ethiopia, the case in Fana Broadcasting Corporate(FBC) investigative radio program. To this end, Primary and

secondary data sources were used to collect data. Primary sources include field research that of observation and

in-depth interviews whereas, the secondary sources are library research that of analysis of historical records

(programs) and documents which are assumed helpful by the researcher for the accomplishment of the study.

The study applied both qualitative and quantitative method to analyze the data. In addition, development

journalism model is employed to underpin the mini-research. The study find out as the model of development

journalism is highly praised but poorly practiced in the media institution: Programs are shallow, producers are

busy with other tasks in such a way they are doing to fill airtime, less comprehensive and done by the effort of

producers as it lacked proper attention from the organization. Though this effort can be worth mentioning it is

not achieving its objectives owing to external problems like lack of stance and transparency from government to

answering the question of the public and to addressing the problems. Therefore, the program which is supposed

to be the voice of the public is in critical situation.

Key words: Development Journalism, Radio program, Ummannii Maal Jedha, FBC, Ethiopia.

1. Introduction

Mass media are the means for behavioral change and the end result is mass mobilization.

Development journalism is a model that deals with every type of development and act as a bridge

between the public and government. To bring this, the media should voice voiceless people and

should concern for those who are marginalized.

To do their activity, journalists investigate and inform the public whether officials are acting

responsibly or abuse the power they are granted by the wider public. Likewise, in Ethiopia

several media institutions came in to being, one way or another, to aware the public so as to

facilitate development in the country. Amongst this Fana Broadcasting Corporate is one which

was established in 1994. Ummannii Maal Jedha? literally means (The Public Say what?) is

investigative radio program in Afan Oromo which aired once in a week. To better see the

concept of development/investigative journalism in the organization, the researcher selected this

program.

2. Objective of the research

The general objective of this study is to analyze investigative radio program of Ummannii Maal

Jedha? and see if the basics of the program fulfill the desired qualities and requirements of

development journalism.

3. Scope and limitation of the Study

Among the yearly program, the scope of the study is limited to programs transmitted from April

2013 to March 2014. Even to make it manageable and to cope up with time, the researcher

randomly selected 10 programs out of 52 programs of the year.

Other than programs, interview with the producers and vice director of the organization was

held though what the public say about the program is not included. Absence of sufficient time,

and finance limited the study.

4. Methodology of the Study

Random sampling method was employed to avoid bias and to make it feasible. The program is

transmitted once a week (Thursday night) and repeated once (Monday morning). This means

there are 52 programs in a year. Amongst 52, to make it representative the researcher randomly

selected 10(20% out of the year) programs.

Primary and secondary data sources were used to collect data. Primary sources include field

research that of observation and interview where as the secondary sources are library research

that of analysis of historical records (programs) and documents which are assumed helpful by the

researcher for the accomplishment of the study. The study applied both qualitative and

quantitative method to analyze the data.

5. Review of related literature

5.1 What of development journalism & its pocket for Investigative Reporting?

Kunczik (in Wimmer & Wolf 2005) notes that development journalism is “an intellectual

enterprise in which the journalist form a kind of free intelligence and should critically examine

the aims of national development and the applicable instruments in a rational discourse and solve

them by reasonable criteria free of social constraints.” Development journalism has to:

i) Motivate the audience to actively cooperate in development; and

ii) Defend the interests of those concerned. (Banda (2006:5)

As Xu Xiaoge (2009: 2-3) stated the key components of development journalism include the

following five aspects:

(a) to report the difference between what has been planned to do and what in reality has been

achieved as well as the difference between its claimed and actual impact on people (Aggarwala,

1978);

(b) To focus not “on day-to-day news but on long term development process” (Kunczik, 1988, p.

83);

(c) To be independent from government and to provide constructive criticisms of government

(Aggarwala, 1978; Shah, 1992; Ogan, 1982);

(d) To shift “journalistic focus to news of economic and social development” while “working

constructively with the government” in nation building (Richstad, 2000, p. 279)

(e) And to empower the ordinary people to improve their own lives and communities (Romano

& Hippocrates, 2001).

There have been strong debate on development journalism between two groups either

development journalism is fit for third world nations to counter act to their problem of

development (scholars argue for DJ) or it is just government say so journalism(scholars argue

against DJ). Whatever is the case, many developing nations are in favor of this journalism model

to mobilize public towards development.

The scope of development journalism is very wide. It deals with all issues related to

development. However, as poverty is the major problem of development issues gets the highest

concern. In development journalism everything that serves public interest and can help nation

building is giving due attention. The question of balance is given paramount importance. Since,

it is basically an attempt of persuasive communication.

According to Murthy (2006):

- Development journalism is the promoting of development process rather than events;

development news covers the entire gamut of socio-economic and cultural development;

- In its treatment, development journalism is not different from investigative reporting.

- A development journalist should critically examine, evaluate and report the relevance of a

development project to national and local needs, the difference between its impacts on people as

claimed by the government officials and as it actually is. It is not synonymous with officially

prepared handouts, so-called positive news (Cited from Negeri Lencho 2010).

Development journalism is a journalism which seeks solutions to the problems raised by the

ordinary people from government others stake holders. Other identify development journalism

with investigative journalism-a journalism type that wishes to make a legitimate report on

development issues with a critical view to examine them. In this case, journalists had a task to

observe critically and report on the whole government development process, which include

planning, implementation, impact and shortcomings as they are; not to support the state

development goals without question; instead to make sure that the development process is

accountable and transparent (Media and Development in the Pacific: 243 cited in Dejene (2009).

The above definition/concept would lead us to understand as investigative reporting is the basic

of development journalism even the synonym to investigative reporting. As development

journalism is opposite to reporting as usual (conventional journalism), the same holds true for

investigative journalism.

Hunter, M.L & et al stated in their work of Story based inquiry: a manual for investigative

journalists, investigative journalism involves exposing to the public matters that are concealed

either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of

facts and circumstances that obscure understanding. It requires using both secret and open

sources and documents.

According to http://www.investigative-journalism-africa.info retrieved on Saturday April 12

2014, define investigative journalism as follows:

# An original, proactive, process that digs deeply into an issue or topic of public interest

# Producing new information or putting known information together to produce new insights

# Multi sourced, using more resources and demanding team working and time

# Revealing secrets or uncovering issues surrounded by silence

# Looking beyond individuals at fault to the systems and processes that allow abuses to happen

# Bearing witness, and investigating ideas as well as facts and events

# Providing nuanced context and explaining not only what, but why

# Not always about bad news, and not necessarily requiring undercover techniques- though it

often is, and sometimes does.

Forbes, Deker (2005:06) analyzed what constitutes investigative reporting as follows:

# In-depth reporting of serious matters which affect the public interest.

# Proactive journalistic enterprise to reveal information that someone wants hidden or

something that may not be that well known or appreciated.

# A long-term process of planning, information gathering and corroboration using a diverse

range of sources.

# The application of more sophisticated techniques to interrogate and piece together

meaning from fragments of information provided by various sources.

# Investigative reporting needs to be independent of special interests; it must aggressively

serve the public trust and enrich public debate.

# Investigative reporting may have an agenda to expose any form of villainy or wrongdoing

with the object of inspiring positive change through informed public debate and outrage.

5.2 What are the Qualities of an investigative reporter? - Passion

- Curiosity

- Initiative

- Logical thinking, organization and self-discipline

- Flexibility

- Team working and communication skills

- Well developed reporting skills

- Broad general knowledge and good research skills

- Determination and patience

- Fairness and strong ethics

- Discretion

- Citizenship and

- Courage(Ibid)

6. Data presentation and Analysis

6.1. The practice of development journalism in Ummanni maal jedha? of FBC’s

investigative radio program

6.1.1 Analysis of how issues/contents entertained in accord with Development Journalism’s

concept

To analyze how issues entertained, it is better to exemplify why the program is designed. As put

on editorial policy of the station and as vice director at Fana Broadcasting Corporate, Tiruwork

Teka told the researcher, the program is designed to defend the public interest and exposing

corruption, lack of good governance, abusive of power, and mal-administration so that

government would take action. Rather, indirectly, it is all about informing the public to defend its

right.

The concept of development journalism is clearly stated in the editorial policy and other related

literatures prepared for professionals in Fana Broadcasting Corporate. Therefore, this study is

intended to examine the content and concept of development journalism with the selected sample

program the researcher wants to analyze. For this reason, 10 programs were selected randomly.

The following table shows the selected programs and the topic raised by those programs.

No. Topic of the program Issues raised Week one Week two

1. Sululta Scandal Lack of good governance

2. The Hetosa myopia Lack of good governance

3. The where of the Statue Corruption

4. Amerti-Nashe apparent Scandal Corruption

5. The Sebeta Conundrum Lack of good governance

Table 1.1

Those programs are ten as each topic of the program entertained twice in a two week of time. In

order to better analyze the sampled programs seeing the way to produce the program is essential

since the steps dictate the outcome of the content.

The program of Ummannii Maal Jedha? is planned by the producer. Here are the steps:

The producer states issues to be covered > discuss with his/her editor > then he/she plan > sent

to editorial for further discussion > then it came back for production. There are rare occasions in

which some are cancelled. The issues stated to be covered by the producer are gained by the

contacts of the producer, from audience, and rarely from the organization.

As stated above in table 1.1, two issues (lack of good governance and corruption) issues are

raised by the selected program. Each of five issues takes two weeks. At the first part of each

program, the questions, comments, grief’s, dissatisfaction, are raised. It is at the second part that

the responsible bodies’ gives answer and debate arises. The investigative radio programs were

detailed and have depth to some extent by comprising those who are in need to be entertained in

the program.

Entertained issues by the program worth vital as they let audiences aware and necessitate social

change. Almost all of them have the right sources that are in need for answers and are included

in the program. I.e. If we take the Sebeta Conundrum the program needed much effort and

investigation. The voice of farmers, their grievance, that of payers, officials, documents, and

what the law says were narrated as to create a better understanding of the issue for listeners. Here

is the issue; before 6years the Sebeta district administration gave 3,000 title deeds or karta for

those who have asked without paying compensation for the land owners (farmers). About

hundreds of farmers asked for justice but nothing. The land is neither for land owners nor for

those who paid. Still there is no answer. The biggest problem was to farmers who have nothing

other than their land.

The case of The where of the statue and Amerti- Nashe apparent scandal are what the program

find out as they are corruptions in which the collected public and government property was

improperly used by individuals that was about to build statue for memorial and hydro-electric

power project, respectively. Whereas, The Hetosa myopia and Sululta scandal were clearly lack

of good governance in which officials who represent the public abuse their power and unable to

provide the exact solution for the problem initiated by them.

Therefore, we can say that Ummanni maal jedha? investigative radio program is striving to bring

the voice of marginalized, to bring government and public in one front, to dig out the

consequence of mal-administration, to investigate the doings of officials and letting the public

know, and tried its best to make the issue comprehensible, though much is in needed to make

development journalism really applicable in the program.

6.2.2 Analysis of Interview

The analysis will be based on the role and concern of producer in the program, and challenges of

practicing development journalism in Fana Broadcasting Corporate.

The program produced by two producers interchangeably and both have some knowhow of

development journalism after training though one has graduated in journalism and

communication. However, this has never saved them not to compromise the basic tenets of

development journalism.

The basic problems not to practice it well are the unwilling to divulge information of sources, the

saying no of public for questions, lack of sufficient institutional support, deadline, a lack of

resources especially transportation, communications, equipment, and low salaries are mentioned

by producers. Political influence, lack of professionalism and poor legal protection i.e.

imprisonment, intimidation, hostility, are also a problem. Mostly, as the issue is controversial

and debatable, officials deny detailed answers and this invite phone interview for clarification

which is highly difficult to understand the mind of sources, not advisable as well.

In addition, sometimes journalists are denied by local officials to move and investigate some

places. The vice director at Fana Broadcasting Corporate Tiruwork Teka stated this as follows

(Excerpt from Interview on April 09, 2014):

‘’Why should I interview the person they bring. Why? White men are

travelling freely throughout this country. Why they prohibit us from doing so?’’

One dire issue producers raised is the task that they carried out is many. This is a big problem for

a journalist who looks after steps of an issue. Obviously, stated in literature review, investigative

program should be dealt in a team, unfortunately, in the sample program two producers are

dealing interchangeably with focusing on their way to the program they are expected to produce.

The fact that being busy might make journalists strives to fill the air time only. Journalism is a

moral work and investigative needs much time, effort, skill, forensic ability and support other

than having the basic qualities of a journalist, even if having those qualities are worth they are

nothing without having time to explore and utilize them. Producers told the researcher that they

are in a way serving the public since they look the editorial policy as the last gate ought to reach

though unpracticed part of the policy are many. Other than that, maybe, the editorial policy may

not support, there are thousands of issues Ummanii Maal Jedhaa? hasn’t touched ever despite

the fact that the program is designed to cover the uncover one for the public.

A producer who has been doing this program for more than three and half years, Tibbesso

Dekamo indicates (Excerpt from Interview on April 09, 2014):

From about 30 programs the media airs in this station, we’ve a single investigative

program. But it gets no unique support as it should to have. There is no additional

day to investigate. Even they let us not to focus on grievance of the public when

election or other national celebration comes. To your surprise, heretofore, the

program was as long as 45minute. However, now, we are advised to do from 25-35

minutes. Other time the program is replaced with what we call special program.

Additionally, the producer doubts the nature of the program when comparing with the basic

tenets of investigative journalism (Excerpt from Interview on April 09, 2014):

Before some years I got training from a Nigerian scholar on investigative

journalism. He told us many things which we are expected to do. When I compare

this with what we are doing I can say it may have partially but there is no

investigative radio program. Out of our programs, maybe, 5-10% may get the

exact and perfect answer; the rest is answered just for the sake of answering. On

issues we got succeed, the responsible person would be promoted than demotion.

Why we strive then? This makes the media false and perpetuates non-credibility.

Though the efforts made so far are worth mentioning, yet again there are various options to

discredit the entertained issues as there is still a wide gap to fill up. Hence, producers thought as

they are enjoying psychological dissatisfaction for their effort. This is directly related to the

question of power of the media. The following is a couple of words extracted from the interview

of vice director at Fana Broadcasting Corporate Tiruwork Teka (Excerpt from Interview on April

09, 2014):

The power of media is running out. We’ve been dealing with various issues

related to lack of good governance but, there is no action against. The media is

seen as hostile instead of partner of development. The outcome of our deeds are

becoming just letting our informants attacked by officials. Maybe, mostly, the

absence of against action is officials who are supposed to take action are parts

of the problem.

Those producers who suffered not to enjoy the right benefit of their effort rightly agree with the

words of their vice director, who was experienced for several years as a journalist in dealing with

investigative issues. The other producer Seyoum Getu who familiarized himself with the

program before months recommends the following to return the program on its path (Excerpt

from Interview on April 09, 2014):

A single journalist cannot bring a change. It should be in a team. Follow up and

support is minimal. The journalist is busy with multi tasks, so that, he may not

produce it well. In addition, there is no link with public interested organizations

like ombudsman, anti-corruption commission, and grievance hearing. These

issues should be rectified.

As far as the organization is concerned with the editorial policy, they should also be accountable

for the reason that made them compromise the basic tenets of development journalism. That’s

why the vice director Tiruwork Teka strongly agree with the idea of producers (Excerpt from

Interview on April 09, 2014):

From the very beginning investigative reporting should be a team work. In

contrary, we’ve a problem of journalists. Having ample time and getting additional

support is needed for these journalists. However, our journalists are so much busy

with the additional tasks. In addition, those journalists should spend much time to

dig out facts. But this would ask us finance. Furthermore, an investigative journalist

should be gifted naturally, other than, being made. I think these issues have lost

attention here.

Whenever we think of professional journalist practice we should think beyond the editorial

policy, which he/she is responsible to. The written material for the organization may well be

furnished with professional ethics and others, though in most cases they are paper lay down.

Other than editorial policy, journalists are controlled by dominant ideology in an organization

and political economy. As stated before, journalists are busy to investigate well leave alone

covering the utmost untouched issues, in fact, which need huge attention. In addition, as they are

busy with additional tasks journalists are compromising the intended profession to be practiced.

Conclusion

In general, the practice of development/investigative journalism of FBC’s Ummanni Maal

Jedha? Afaan Oromo investigative radio program is facing the lack of the intended focus and

support from the organization. The program is highly dependent on the effort of producers and

faces fading of the basic concepts of development journalism as it encounters different external

and internal factors even though producers have know how of the investigative concept.

Though the efforts done so far are worth mentioning, the program is in critical situation since,

mostly, issues entertained are open-ended and ineffective as they lack in providing the right

solution for the problem. The program plan in action is poor or not working with its objectives.

This incurs the power of media in mobilizing the public toward the implementation of

development projects. In a nutshell, investigative /development journalism is highly praised

term in Fana Broadcasting Corporate but poorly practiced.

Recommendation

In order to play its role effectively in development process, the program:

Should get basic attention and support from the organization so as to act in accord with

the basic tenets of development/investigative journalism and break the available

challenges.

The government has to pay attention for the efforts of programs to take action against as

it is responsible saves media institutions from losing credibility. In addition, as media is

partner of development and as development journalism model dictates this, government

should be smart to work with media than ignoring them for not working for them.

References

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Dejene Tesemma (2009). Promoting Development Journalism in state Media: The case of

Addis Zemen Newspaper. Unpublished MA thesis, Addis Ababa University.

Forbes, Deker (2005:06). A Watch Dog Guide to Investigative Reporting; A simple

Introduction Principles and Practice in Investigative Reporting, Konrad

Adenauer Stiftung, Johannes Burg.

Hunter, M.L & et al (nd). Story Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists,

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http://www.investigative-journalism-africa.info