The Effect Of Media Ownership On The Framing Of News The Ethiopian Herald Vs. The Reporter On The Coverage Of The Oromo Protests From April 2014 April 2016

Media ownership has an immense effect on the framing of news. Especially in such a time wherernmedia‘s reach as increased, and its power to shape, influence and bring change in differentrnaspects of individuals and nations, news has become primarily a commodity. This commodityrnbrings the owner money, as well as power. Hence, media has been another front where politicalrnwars are fought. In the name of public service, media owners forward their ideologies, accordingrnto their needs and beliefs. This takes place through the influence ownership makes on media‘srncontent, especially on the ‗objective‘ news. It deprives media of its independence, and the publicrnof the ability to make well-informed decisions. This is evident in Ethiopia where a polarized typernof ownership exists between the private and public owned media houses. Both the private, asrnwell as government media have agendas they forward through their institutions. Yet researchrnfindings show that this truth doesn‘t necessarily mean they are not serving the public, but therndegree of public service rendered is questionable.rnWhile these ownership types will continue to live on, there are a number of things that can berndone to insure that the media will work towards the public‘s interest. This first begins by settingrnup an atmosphere where the media are held accountable. The media, ‗Fourth Estate‘, are set uprnto be watchdogs of government‘s activities, and keep the state accountable to the public. But ifrnthere isn‘t an accountability system for the media itself, then it becomes another uncontrollablerngiant. So who keeps the media accountable? It is the public itself.rnA media scene that forwards political and self-gain ambitions doesn‘t only show of an illbehavedrngovernment and private sector, rather it also points towards a dormant public that doesrnnot intervene. The fourth estate is a two way street, just like democracy, where activernparticipation of the public is necessary. Through the formation of press council, and cooperationrnof civil societies and organizations such as Ombudsman and anti-corruption office with thernmedia, an organized public opinion that can not only keep media accountable but also lead inrnagenda setting can be formed. It is only when this is realized that power truly rests in the handsrnof the public.

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