Journalists or activists? Self - identity in the Ethiopian diaspora online community

This study investigates the role of the diaspora online media as stakeholders in the transnational Ethiopian media landscape. Through content analysis of selected websites and interviews with editors, the research discusses how the sites relate to recognized journalistic ideals and how the editors view themselves in regard to journalistic professionalism. It is argued that the journalistic ideals of the diaspora media must be understood towards the particular political conditions in homeland Ethiopia. Highly politicized, the diaspora websites display a marked critical attitude towards the Ethiopian government through an activist journalism approach. The editors differ slightly among themselves in the perception of whether activist journalism is in conflict with ideal-type professional norms, but they justify the practice either because of the less than ideal conditions back home or because they maintain that the combination of activism and professionalism is a forward-looking journalism ideology. The online initiatives of the Ethiopian diaspora are found to prolong media contestations in the homeland as well as reinforcing an ideal-type professional journalism paradigm

Status for miljøet i norske havområder - Rapport fra Overvåkingsgruppen 2023

I denne rapporten gir Overvåkingsgruppen, for første gang, en felles vurdering av miljøtilstanden i Barentshavet og havområdene utenfor Lofoten, Norskehavet og Nordsjøen med Skagerrak. Det er også første rapport som bruker resultater fra det nylig utviklede fagsystemet for vurdering av økologisk tilstand. I denne rapporten dekkes to hovedtemaer: (1) Dominerende trekk i status og utvikling i økosystemet i alle tre havområdene, basert på vurderingene av økologisk tilstand, Overvåkingsgruppens rapport om forurensning fra 2022, indikatorer fra Overvåkingsgruppen som ikke er dekket under vurdering av økologisk tilstand, samt rapporter og annen relevant informasjon fra forskning, og (2) en vurdering av karbonbinding i marint plankton, marine vegetasjonstyper og marine sedimenter. I tillegg er det gitt en oppsummering for endringer i ytre påvirkning, vurdering av kunnskapsbehov samt en vurdering av indikatorverdier i forhold til referanseverdier og tiltaksgrenser. Vurderingen av dominerende trekk i utvikling og tilstand av miljøet som er gitt i kapittel 2, utgjør Overvåkingsgruppens bidrag til Faglig forums samlerapport om det faglige grunnlaget for revisjon og oppdatering av de helhetlige forvaltningsplanene for norske havområder.Status for miljøet i norske havområder - Rapport fra Overvåkingsgruppen 2023publishedVersio

Naujoji žiniasklaida ir nauji redagavimo iššūkiai: Norvegijos pamokos

Šiame straipsnyje nušviečiama vis dažniau Norvegijoje diskutuojama naujosios žiniasklaidos kuriamų iššūkių redakcinei atsakomybei tema. Internetinių diskusijų forumai sukėlė ypač daug ginčų ir neaiškumų dėl redakcijos vaidmens. Tyrimas atskleidė, jog Norvegijos Spaudos nusiskundimų komisijos gaunamų skundų dėl internetinio turinio skaičius auga, dauguma jų pasitvirtina. Redakcijos skirtingai vertina vartotojo kuriamo turinio redagavimą Norvegijoje. Straipsnyje taip pat pristatoma skaitmeninės žiniasklaidos reglamentavimo sistema Šiaurės ir Baltijos šalyse. Dažniausiai taikomas tradicinis reglamentavimas, kurio nepakanka naujosios žiniasklaidos redakcinei atsakomybei apibrėžti. Vyraujančiame diskurse apie redakcijos kontrolės pobūdį skaitmeninėje žiniasklaidoje galima išskirti du priešingus požiūrius: “atsakingos redakcijos” diskursą ir “dalyvaujančios naujosios žiniasklaidos” diskursą. Pagaliau, žvelgiant į redakcijos skaitmeniniame amžiuje perspektyvas, galima būtų išskirti tris galimus scenarijus: silpnėjantį, stiprėjantį bei kintantį redaktoriaus vaidmenį.New media and new editorial challenges: Lessons from NorwayTerje S. Skjerdal SummaryThis article discusses some of the challenges that the new media create for editorial responsibility in light of recent discussion in Norway. Online discussion forums in particular have caused much dispute and ambiguity as regards editorial involvement. The study shows that the Norwegian Press Complaints Commission has received an increasing number of complaints regarding online content, and that the complaints usually result in an adjudication. It is shown that Norwegian editors have diverse attitudes towards the question of pre-moderation or post-moderation of user-generated content. The study further contains an overview and discussion of media regulation in the Nordic-Baltic countries in relation to the digital media. The regulations are generally traditional in their focus and are insufficient to clarify questions of editorial responsibility of the new media. In terms of the dispute over editorial control in the digital media, two contradicting discourses are identified: the ‘responsible editorship’ discourse and the ‘participatory new media’ discourse. Lastly, three scenarios are drawn as regards the prospects of editorship in the digital media age: a weakened, a strengthened and a redefined role of the editor.Key words: Editorial responsibility, online discussion, code of ethics, media law, Norway, Nordic-Baltic countrie

The ethnification of the Ethiopian media : A research report

This report looks into the issue of media and ethnicity in contemporary Ethiopia. As any- one can witness, there have been immense changes in the local media situation sin- ce Dr. Abiy Ahmed assumed leadership in April 2018. In just two years, the country has improved its ranking on Reporter Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index by 51 places, which is the greatest leap of any country anytime – by far. There is a lot to celebrate. At the same time, the press situation in the country is deeply disconcerting. The reason for this is that the media landscape is as po- larized as never before, and that parts of the media are being blamed for playing a pivotal role in the turbulence which have erupted in various parts of the country since 2019. The suspicion of many people is that the media are being exploited to propagate an ethnic agenda. Towards this backdrop, the intention of the study is to examine the role of the media in ethnic tensions in contemporary Ethio- pia. The methodology is twofold, combining in-depth interviews with framing analysis. For the interview part, we have met appro- ximately 25 persons with key positions in all major parts of the media in the country. For the framing analysis, we have scrutinized the media coverage of eight crucial incidents of 2019 in ten different media outlets. We argue that the tendencies we’re ob- serving in the media can be described as an intensified ethnification process. By this we mean that ethnic belonging and identity politics are gaining significance as central frames of reference in the current Ethiopi-an media discourse. Ethnicity is being em- ployed as a key to interpret media messages, and it outlines a frame for classifying media channels and personalities. We identify two major frames, annihilation and othering, which are indicative of the tendency of jour- nalists to align with their ethnic background. We also find that many media practitioners are deeply concerned about the develop- ments. Research data point towards a more pluralistic media society in Ethiopia (albeit segmented pluralism), but also significantly more polarization. The polarization is fuel- led by ethno-nationalistic media of different origin and ownership, vis-à-vis pan-Ethio- pianist channels. The previous stronghold of the federal state media (EPRDF-supportive) has been overtaken by a fragmented state media structure with growing significance of regional mass media agencies. Journalists are beginning to form alliances along regi- onal and ethnic fault lines, as illustrated by the launch of Amhara Journalists Associati- on, Oromia Journalists Association, Tigray Journalists Association, and so forth. Jour- nalists are highly inclined to use sources which support their own ideological inte- rest, and avoid quoting sources from other ethnicities which could balance the story. When it comes to professional ideals, vario- us channels practice a hybrid reporting style which blends acknowledged standards with an interventionist or activist agenda. We ar- gue that ethnic and political agendas are at risk of being at odds with media professio-nalism.This version of the report contains minor corrections of the original pdf booklet which was distributed and launched in November to December 2020.</p

Media and religion in Ethiopia : A research report

Religion has become an issue in the Ethiopian media. This is a new situation in a country which for many years excluded religious expressions from the public media. With the coming of primeminister Abiy Ahmed and the Prosperity Party in 2018, the principle of the secular state, which is in the Ethiopian Constitution, has been challenged fundamentally. Religion is being brought into official speeches and reflected in the media. Presenters on state television are seen wearing Orthodox crosses and Muslim hijabs, which was unheard of just five years ago. The new media proclamation which came in 2021 allows religious organizations to apply for broadcasting licences for the first time in the nation’s history. By 2023, between 40 and 50 religious organizations have acquired such a licence. At the same time, religion has also surfaced as a conflict issue in th emedia. Quarrel within the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council in 2021, dispute around the ownership and use of Meskel Square in Addis Ababa in 2020–22, and an attempt of schism within the Orthodox church in 2023 are three hot issues which epitomize religious conflictas a topic in the current news scene. The purpose of this study is to assess the ongoing changes in media and religion in Ethiopia. The researchers have interviewed 20 representatives from the media, the religious community and the regulator. The study also contains an indepth analysis of 98 stories on religion which made headlines in ten different media outlets between 2020 and 2023. The study found that the new found openness for religion in the Ethiopian media is deficient. The ‘broadcasting licences’ for religious organizations do not permit local radio stations or transmission through terrestrial television but are a registration system to map organizations which use the Internet and satellite to distribute religious programmes to Ethiopian audiences. The authorities continue to be suspicious of religious broadcasting and fear that extreme actors will destabilize the social order if they get access to the airwaves. The state media – officially called public media – neglect and downplay religious conflict issues in their coverage. However, with the many private media outlets as well as the social media on the scene, it has become harder for the state media to control the narrative around religious issues altogether. The content analysis shows that polarizationis still a major problem in the reporting of religion in the Ethiopian media. Stories are often biased towards the journalist’s political and ethnic stance. Claiming that they are ’secular’, the state media (’public media’) tend to ignore important religious issues and conflicts which have resulted in loss of lives, burning of religious buildings, and displacement of people. The media appear to be ambivalent between applying a peculiar interpretation of ’secular’ principles by ignoring religion, or deciding to report such issues. The report stresses the importance of sensitizing reporters about religious issues and making the media more ethically responsible when reporting religion

Sharing in Collaborative Systems : A Set of Patterns for Information Sharing between Co-located Users

Technological advances, specifically within the field of mobile and ubiquitous technologies, hold the promise to support collaboration in work and educational environments in new ways. Within collaborative systems, it is possible to use ubiquitous technology to provide users with services to interact - for instance share information - with other users in a given environment. Over the course of this project, the authors have created a set of design principles for co-located information sharing in collaborative systems, using a structured method called patterns. The aim of these patterns is to provide support for designers and developers of collaborative systems to take advantage of mobile and ubiquitous technology when designing and implementing support for co-located sharing. The patterns were based on a set of re-occurring problems identified as important for co-located information sharing between users. These problems were identified by performing a review of relevant literature, research and existing solutions on the subject. An initial set of patterns were created based on this review. The patterns themselves are written on an abstraction level that targets the human-computer interaction part of sharing information between co-located users. The patterns where then evaluated by three experts within system engineering and collaborative systems, in an iterative process. The overall aim of these evaluations were to ensure that the patterns were easy to understand, and that they provided the information that was relevant for the problem and the domain, in order to be useful in the development process of collaborative systems. The result of these evaluations culminated in a final set of patterns for co-located information sharing. These patterns describe guidelines for: (1) How users can specify the information they wish to share and the receiver(s) of that information, (2) how users can be aware of the potential for collaboration, (3) how situated displays can be used to share information, (4) how user privacy should be protected and (5) how information should be available when the user needs it. The final set of patterns is given in chapter 6 of the thesis

Media and religion in Ethiopia : A research report

Religion has become an issue in the Ethiopian media. This is a new situation in a country which for many years excluded religious expressions from the public media. With the coming of primeminister Abiy Ahmed and the Prosperity Party in 2018, the principle of the secular state, which is in the Ethiopian Constitution, has been challenged fundamentally. Religion is being brought into official speeches and reflected in the media. Presenters on state television are seen wearing Orthodox crosses and Muslim hijabs, which was unheard of just five years ago. The new media proclamation which came in 2021 allows religious organizations to apply for broadcasting licences for the first time in the nation’s history. By 2023, between 40 and 50 religious organizations have acquired such a licence. At the same time, religion has also surfaced as a conflict issue in th emedia. Quarrel within the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council in 2021, dispute around the ownership and use of Meskel Square in Addis Ababa in 2020–22, and an attempt of schism within the Orthodox church in 2023 are three hot issues which epitomize religious conflictas a topic in the current news scene. The purpose of this study is to assess the ongoing changes in media and religion in Ethiopia. The researchers have interviewed 20 representatives from the media, the religious community and the regulator. The study also contains an indepth analysis of 98 stories on religion which made headlines in ten different media outlets between 2020 and 2023. The study found that the new found openness for religion in the Ethiopian media is deficient. The ‘broadcasting licences’ for religious organizations do not permit local radio stations or transmission through terrestrial television but are a registration system to map organizations which use the Internet and satellite to distribute religious programmes to Ethiopian audiences. The authorities continue to be suspicious of religious broadcasting and fear that extreme actors will destabilize the social order if they get access to the airwaves. The state media – officially called public media – neglect and downplay religious conflict issues in their coverage. However, with the many private media outlets as well as the social media on the scene, it has become harder for the state media to control the narrative around religious issues altogether. The content analysis shows that polarizationis still a major problem in the reporting of religion in the Ethiopian media. Stories are often biased towards the journalist’s political and ethnic stance. Claiming that they are ’secular’, the state media (’public media’) tend to ignore important religious issues and conflicts which have resulted in loss of lives, burning of religious buildings, and displacement of people. The media appear to be ambivalent between applying a peculiar interpretation of ’secular’ principles by ignoring religion, or deciding to report such issues. The report stresses the importance of sensitizing reporters about religious issues and making the media more ethically responsible when reporting religion