Examining op-ed columns in the Ethiopian media

A study of the public sphere

Bibliographic Data

ID21719002
AuthorsBelew Anley Taglo (0009-0005-4518-6624, Addis Ababa University, corresponding author), Mulatu Alemayehu Moges (0000-0002-5616-881X, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University)
Year2026
Volume27
Issue4
Pages1088-1105
Publication date2026-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournalism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-8849 • E-ISSN: 1741-3001
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/14648849251323676
OpenAlexW4408376586
LanguageEN
References cited24

This study investigates the state of the public sphere in the Ethiopian media during the country’s 2018 political reform. It reports on an innovative print format that has proved to be a public sphere. Drawing on methodological insight from quantitative content analysis, the study examines the democratic potential of op-ed columns in the light of public sphere theory. Contrary to the original purpose of op-ed column, our findings indicate that Ethiopian op-ed columns fall short to fit to the principles of public sphere, such as a narrow range of viewpoints, a limited authorship diversity, and an absence of independent op-ed columns. The study further reveals that ownership structure and media’s orientation to the public sphere are factors that shape the features of op-ed columns in Ethiopian media. Qualitative analysis reveals contested framing of the 2018 Ethiopian political reform across the selected media outlets, with op-ed coverage presenting varying facts and evaluations. This contestant is evident in the use of individual- versus societal-level responsibility frames and pro- versus anti-reform binary frames

Political science · Public sphere · Media Influence and Politics · Media Studies and Communication · Psychology · Social Media and Politics

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