"I would like to assure you that you are studying an excellent field if
it is of your passion..."
online interview with Hailemelekot T. Birhan
(He works in the leading media consulting company; contributes to the weekly English newspaper, Fortune; he also travels to Canada and Turkey spearheading a delegation consists of Ethiopian investors ant the media)
Temesgen Shiferaw:-
From the perspective of press freedom, does online journalism has it's own
rules or some other different laws? In other words, what is the press freedom
for online journalism?
Hailemelekot:-
It's really an interesting point you
raised.
Online journalism has its own rules
and regulations which has to abide by in so many countries around the world.
Yet, there is no such law that governs it here in Ethiopia. As to my
understanding the essence of press freedom in online journalism is not
different from that of traditional media. Yet, we have to wait for the laws to
be promulgated here in Ethiopia.
Habtamu Abera:_
Is research important for journalism
students? Is research or documentary more crucial?
Hailemelekot:-
"Well, research is crucial for
journalism. If you are a journalist you are always researching because you need
to find out the fact and the truth. The same goes to documentary. If you are
provided with a task to produce a documentary, still you need to do a research.
Hope you will learn more about research in the times ahead."
Michelle Elias:-
What do you think ,Can
bloggers would be journalist according to our ethics of journalism???
Hailemelekot:-
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|
Well, bloggers can be journalists or
not. The way they do their reporting matter. As you might be well aware,
journalists try to tell the objective truth, report facts fairly, strives for
balance and disclose bias.So,what matters here is whether bloggers do exercise
these very components or not. Experience shows that some bloggers simply put
opinions in their blogs and some strives for those ideals stated above. You
also do need to bear in mind that a glut of journalists do have their own
blogs.
In a nutshell, you can call those
bloggers who are in line with journalistic ethics bloggers and the others not.
Riste Tsegaye:-
After the emergence of citizen journalism, Professional
journalism become a dying profession. so what is your Advise to
professional journalists to enhance the field???
Hailemelekot:-
I wonder the mainstream media is dying due to citizen journalism.
Both are working in their own way and no doubt the latter poses a
challenge on the former. But I don't think it reaches on survival level.
Just be loyal to the profession and keep all the ethics and
professionalism if it needs to thrive in the future.
Wendifraw Tesisa
What will be the future of journalists and traditional media???
Hailemelekot:-
In a broader sense, as to my understanding the future of journalists and the mainstream
media will remain bright. They will keep on going provider of the main
source of information. Yet, there is an insurmountable challenge the
mainstream media faced from what recently dubbed " Citizen Journalism" or
"Social Media".
In this regard, it seems that this very social media broke the stories
world wide preceding the mainstream media. So in the future, the lingering
reality is " For whom the mainstream media break the stories"? Citizens are
everywhere and they will tweet,post on Facebook etc. right away.
all, we can see and share experience with each other
Almaz Abebe:-
The traditional media is become dead by social media. So in
your perspective what is the value of a journalist in this time?
Hailemelekot:-
It seems there is some sort of exaggeration on the remark that the
mainstream media is dying due to social media. As to my knowledge, even
if there is a challenge from the social media on the mainstream media,
it doesn't lead to survival. So, the value of a journalist will pursue
on as it is
Gedam Gebru:-
What will be the
future of professional journalists while there are many citizen
journalists?
Hailemelekot:-
There
are challenges from citizen journalism on the mainstream media. But, I
don't see the future of mainstream media that much gloomy. It will keep
on playing a crucial role. Somewhat the missions of the two differ as
well
Bezawit Teferi:-
What kind of ability journalists must
have in social media to get the attention of audience?”
Hailemelekot:-
Well, journalists must have all the professional talent possibly what
you have learned in your class including the ethics. So this also works
while you are working in social media as well
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| Mr. Hailemelekot T. Birhanu |
Endale Elias:-
For what purpose you use online media? Why you chose to use it?
Hailemelekot:-
I
use online media mainly to get information as to my areas of interest. I
choose to use online media as it provides up-to-date information
instantly
Meseret G/Medhi:-
Online media can be expand from time to time so, what do you think
about our feature traditional media?
Hailemelekot:-
The future of traditional media in Ethiopia will not be different
from the online media. There are several factors for this including
internet connectivity and access to computer. You can guess the
penetration rate of internet in Ethiopia. Thus, there is a huge
potential both for the mainstream media and online media to thrive in
Ethiopia in the future
Mesfin Kassahun:-
How do you describe the impact of new media on journalism?
Hailemelekot:-
The
social media (new media) seems broke the stories preceding the
mainstream media nowadays. So its impact is that more people may get
up-to-date information from the social media than the mainstream media.
You might guess what is going to happen if it pursues like this. More
and more people might give attention to the social media than the
mainstream media.
Behailu Gezahegn:-
What do you think about the role of Ethiopian broadcast media on political system of Ethiopia?
Hailemelekot:-
As
any country, the broadcast media plays an insurmountable role in
influencing and guiding the political atmosphere in Ethiopia. What may
differ is that the role of the media in stirring the politics in
Ethiopia is not that much of other developed nations.Bear in mind that
our system has its own limitations.
Selam Wuletaw:-
What do
you think of the use of learning online journalism?
Hailemelekot:-
Now a days there is an increase
in the number of bloggers, do you think this can affect the journalist work? By
the way I want to admire you. I expect your answer. Thank you.
Well, at the current digital age you should learn online journalism
as it will become the main source of information to people along with
the mainstream media. Journalists in the mainstream media should cope-up
with the overall changes quickly and adapt themselves. Doing this, they
can minimize the effect of online journalism. So it may affect the
audience of the mainstream media but journalists can be part of it and
do their jobs respecting the professionalism and ethics
Semhal Mekonnen:-
To
be a journalist you have to be advocator of the government. And how can
i be a neutral and objective journalist in this situation?
Hailemelekot:-
Well, it depends on the environment you are working on. If you are
working on government media, you may be obliged to have a pro-government
tone. Yet, what you need to understand is that, even if you are working
on a private media, as the professional ethics says so, you need to
dig out the truth and the fact. You don't need to be biased. Yet, as a
private media, you may have some thoughts which you stand for. So, as
long as you are aware of the ideals of journalism, there are private
media as well. So you can join there and grow your career
Hanna Kiflu:-
What's your idea about the impact of social media on the profession of journalism?
Hailemelekot:-
The
social media seems broke the stories preceding the mainstream media
nowadays. So its impact is that more people may get up-to-date
information from the social media than the mainstream media. You might
guess what is going to happen if it pursues like this. More and more
people might give attention to the social media than the mainstream
media
Tsion Hailu:-
What do
you think about to days Freedom of Press and Freedom of Expression in
Ethiopia?
Hailemelekot:-
To
be honest with you, the issue of freedom of press and freedom of
expression is quite a delicate matter in Ethiopia. It seems you are also
very much aware of that and tried to change the angle of your question
from what you have said specifically about Ethiopian to a general sense
latter. It doesn't mater.We can talk about the issue in Ethiopia in a
precise way.
Freedom of press and expression is
a constitutionally guaranteed right in Ethiopia as per Article 29 of
the FDRE Constitution as well as subsequent proclamation of the Freedom
of the Mass media and Access to Information,590/2008. In fact the laws
are there, but serious irregularities are observed in the
implementation. What you have to bear in mind that, developing
professionalism is very crucial while working as a journalist. This
gives you the credibility and doesn't give any room of error for those
who might be critical of it. Yet, even if the framework is there, some
one should not feel everything is smooth as of the developed nations.
Andualem Semachew:-
How do you think about the progress of online journalism in Ethiopia ??
Hailemelekot:-
Online journalism in Ethiopia is at early stage. It
is very much infantile. As you know one needs to have internet
connection and a computer to engage in online journalism. I think you
can make an educated guess on how many people do have internet
connection and access to computers in Ethiopia. It heavily relies on
that. In fact nowadays people can have internet access from their phones
but that is still limited. Just think the progress of online journalism
in this context.
Elias Shume:-
Nowadays News and Information is written
and published by any ordinary person out of his/ her profession
in social media like Facebook ,twitter and any information news isreached for millions with in a second.
What do you think about this issue as professional , what would be the
role of a journalist for future?
Hailemelekot:-
The
emergence of social media and its ability to garner more and more
people to it is a plus as a way of alternative source of information.
But you need to bear in mind that the social media is more of people's
opinion and not exactly the same with the mainstream media. The
mainstream media is looking for facts and truth.
But
journalists will keep on doing their professional work at least in the
near future with all the components of its professionalism and ethics.
Melat Mirco:-
What do u think the effect of social media is on the work of journalists?
Hailemelekot:-
The question you raised is one of the lingering issues circling the journalism profession.
The
social media seems broke the stories preceding the mainstream media
nowadays. So its impact is that more people may get up-to-date
information from the social media than the mainstream media. You might
guess what is going to happen if it pursues like this. More and more
people might give attention to the social media than the mainstream
media. But but this is not an insurmountable problem for the mainstream
media. Still there is ample room to work on it.
Nahom Tadesse:-
Do
you think journalism is a field that has to be given at University
level? More specifically, from the perspective of citizen journalism,
should this field be given by degree?
Hailemelekot:-
I would like to assure you that you are studying an excellent field if
it is of your passion. You don't need to worry about the challenge of
citizen journalism that much. It's undeniable that it poses a challenge
but don't consider it as a threat and discourage you.
Sure, journalism will keep on one of the fields to be provided in Universities and follow your ambitions.
Frehiwot:-
how are using the on line media? i want to share some of your information about that
Hailemelekot:-
I
use online media mainly to get information as to my areas of interest. I
choose to use online media as it provides up-to-date information
instantly
Tsion Kibru:-
As you are working on media consulting company and also experienced both
the traditional and the new media in the country,how far do you think
the development of citizen journalism in the country is becoming a
challenge for the traditional media in revising its content?
Hailemelekot:-
Citizen
journalism is becoming a challenge to the mainstream media around the
globe. Yet, in the context of Ethiopia, you don't need to consider it as
a challenge yet. This is due to the fact that both the mainstream media
and the social media are at an early stage of development. There is
still a huge potential on both sides to work on it.
Bisrat Kiday:-
Now a days every body becomes a journalist so what is the use of professional journalist?
Hailemelekot:-
There
are challenges from citizen journalism on the mainstream media. But, I
don't see the future of mainstream media that much gloomy. It will keep
on playing a crucial role. Somewhat the missions of the two differ as
well.
Haimanot Wendimu:-
in online journalism we can advert any good's and service so how to get payment?
Hailemelekot:-
In
Ethiopia, you make an agreement in advance including the payment before
the ad is posted physically going to office or in some other
mechanisms. You can collect the money in this manner. Yet, in most
countries, electronic payment methods such as visa card and master card
is possible
Abel Dejene:-
What do you think about the future journalism?
Hailemelekot:-
Be
sure that the future of journalism is very much bright. You joined a
very good, dynamic and ever-growing profession. It's quite interesting
to to live in a changing environment while reporting it at the same
time. In fact there are lots of challenges but not insurmountable.
That's it. I would like to thanks both our instructor to give us the chance to contact such a wisely experienced person and Mr. Hailemelekot himself too, for his cooperation by answering all the questions. And thirdly all my classmates for your strong participation. We will be in touch with another interview next time.
