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The Influence of Media Frames on the Public's Perception

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The Influence of Media Frames on the Public's Perception THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA FRAMES ON THE PUBLIC’S PERCEPTION OF THE 2015-16 ETHIOPIAN PROTEST TESFAGEBRIEL TEKOLA A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA JUNE, 2017 ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION THE INFLUENCE OF MEDIA FRAMES ON THE PUBLIC’S PERCEPTION OF THE 2015-16 ETHIOPIAN PROTEST BY TESFAGEBRIEL TEKOLA ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA JUNE, 2017 Addis Ababa University School of Graduate Studies This is to certify that the thesis prepared by Tesfagebriel Tekola, entitled “The Influence of Media Frames on the Public’s Perception of the 2015-16 Ethiopian Protest” and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication complies with the regulations of the University and notes the accepted standards with respect to originality and quality. Signed by the Examining Committee: Examiner________________________________ Signature_____________ Date____________ Examiner________________________________ Signature_____________ Date____________ Advisor__________________________________ Signature_____________ Date____________ ________________________________________________________________ Chair of the Department or Graduate Coordinator ii Acknowledgement First and foremost, I am grateful to the God, for the good health and wellbeing that were necessary to complete this thesis. I would also like to forward my sincere thanks to my advisor, Professor Debashis Chakrabarti, for his continuous encouragement, valuable guidance, constructive comments and suggestions through the making of this research. My gratitude to my mom, Almaz Tesema, is unique. Her encouragement has always been instrumental for my success, and she has always been source of inspiration. I also thank my sisters Banchiayehu, Tarikua and my brother, Mintesnot for the unceasing encouragement, support and care throughout writing this thesis and my life in general. Selamawit Taffere, you are such a nice friend everyone would love to have around. I am deeply grateful to you for being there for me during those unbearable times. Similarly, I would like to thank all the respondents who filled the questionnaires, and all my friends who helped me in the data collection and coding process. Finally, I thank Mekelle University for granting me the opportunity to attend the MA class in Addis Ababa University. iii Acronyms AJE - Al-Jazeera English ANDM - Amhara Nationality Democratic Movement CNN - Cable News Network CSA - Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia EBC - Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation EPRDF - Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ETV – Ethiopian Television EU - European Union FBC - Fana Broadcasting Corporate HRW - Human Rights Watch IGO - Intergovernmental Organization OAU - Organization of African Union OPDO - Oromo People Democratic Organization RTLMC - Radio Television Libre Mille Collines RVI - Rift Valley Institute SNNPR - Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region SPLF - Southern People Liberation Front TPLF - Tigray People Liberation Front WAIC - Wolkait Amhara Identity Committee WCC - World Council of Churches WPE - Workers Party of Ethiopia iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT PAGE Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................... iii Acronyms ................................................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................... v List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... viii ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background of the Study ................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................. 4 1.3. Objective of the Study....................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1. General Objective of the Study ................................................................................. 6 1.3.2. Specific Objectives of the Study ............................................................................... 6 1.4. Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 7 1.5. Hypotheses ...................................................................................................................... 7 1.6. Significance of the Study ................................................................................................. 7 1.7. Scope of the Study ........................................................................................................... 8 1.8. Organization of the Study ................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................................................................................... 9 2.1. Media and Politics ............................................................................................................ 9 2.1. Media and Movement .................................................................................................... 12 2.3. Background of the Protest ............................................................................................... 13 2.3.1. How it all began ..................................................................................................... 14 2.3.2. Escalation ............................................................................................................... 15 2.3.3. Causes of the Protest .............................................................................................. 16 2.3.4. The Protesters ........................................................................................................ 18 2.3.5. Reactions ............................................................................................................... 19 2.3.6. The Present Situation .............................................................................................. 20 2.4. Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation................................................................................ 21 v 2.5. Theoretical Framework: Framing ................................................................................... 22 2.5.1. Definition ............................................................................................................... 23 2.5.2. Functions of Frames ............................................................................................... 25 2.5.3. Frames’ Locations .................................................................................................. 26 2.5.4. Framing Process ..................................................................................................... 27 2.5.5. Type of Frames ...................................................................................................... 28 2.5.6. Studying Frames ...................................................................................................... 30 2.5.7. Factors Affecting Framing ...................................................................................... 30 2.5.8. Critiques of Framing Theory ................................................................................... 31 2.5.9. Framing Studies ...................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................................... 35 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 35 3.2. Research Design ............................................................................................................. 35 3.3. Determining Media Frames through Content Analysis .................................................... 36 3.3.1. Selection of Media Outlet ......................................................................................... 36 3.3.2. Sample Unit of Analysis .......................................................................................... 37 3.3.3. Sampling Technique and Sample Size ..................................................................... 37 3.3.4. Intercoder Reliability ............................................................................................... 38 3.3.5. Definition of Variables and Terms ............................................................................ 39 3.4. Determining Audience Frame through Survey................................................................. 40 3.4.1. Study Area .............................................................................................................
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