Participatory Program Production Public Deliberation And Prospects For Practicing Public Journalism In Mekelle Fm Radio Stations

Prominent public journalism advocates hold that journalism should be done in a way that invitesrncitizen participation in shaping news coverage. For, they believed, the purpose of journalism is torn“help public life go well.” In similar realm, the aim of this study was to investigate the prospectsrnof journalism practices in creating effective public sphere at a local context through thernapplication of public journalism principles; based on the description and critical analysis ofrnparticipatory journalism practices in Mekelle FM radio stations. With this end in view,rnqualitative research approach was employed. Hence, individual in-depth interviews, focus grouprndiscussions, participant observation and content analysis of broadcasts were employed to gatherrnthe data needed to scrutinize the aim of the study.rnThe findings of the study demonstrate that there are some promising activities that signify thern‘civic turn’ of journalism practice or the ends-oriented journalism is creeping into the practicesrnof these media. Some programs are shaped in a way that encourages public engagement; and thernparticipants, too, participate in discussions with due concern to the community issues. Therneditors’/managers’ and program coordinators’ considerable effort and keen attempt to work withrnthe public by developing new participatory programs are also part of the promising activities tornpractice ends-oriented journalism in these stations. Nevertheless, the journalists obscurerninterpretation of the essence of participatory journalism in general and effective deliberation inrnparticular may jeopardize effective application of public journalism principles.

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