Professional perceptions among male and female journalists on the Horn of Africa: A quantitative study

Abstract

Abstract The article discusses differences in professional perceptions among male and female journalists in Ethiopia, which is a country known for low scores on gender equality and limited women representation in the media. The approach is quantitative, involving a survey of 350 local journalists. The study observes gender differences in the monitoring and scrutinizing functions of the media, which are found to be more important for the male journalists, and in the entertainment and nation-building functions of the media, which are emphasized more by the women. Female journalists exhibit stricter ethical viewpoints than their male counterparts, whereas male journalists are somewhat more supportive of situational ethics and ethical risk-taking. However, the overall differences in professional perceptions are relatively minor, and a series of indicators did not detect any significant difference between the male and female journalists.