The Journalistic Field in Ethiopia: Where Partisanship and Credibility Cohabit

Abstract

Contemporary Ethiopia has been characterized by political polarization and a resultant weak differentiation of the journalistic field from other social fields. The chapter examines how, in such an environment, Fana Broadcasting Corporate—a commercial broadcasting organization affiliated with the governing elite—has managed to carve out a unique position where it practices the kind of journalism that ensures the reproduction of the privileged worldview of the governing elite and at the same time garners a favorable reception from the audience. Using qualitative data and Bourdieu’s field theory, the chapter argues that the unequal distribution of different forms of capital resulting from Fana’s privileged association within the political and economic fields has contributed to the creation of status hierarchies within the media field, situating this particular media house at the top of such hierarchy.