Independence in the shadow of power: A phenomenological inquiry of Public Service Broadcasting management in Ethiopia

Abstract

This phenomenological inquiry aimed at exploring how Public Service Broadcasting managers and journalists in Ethiopia experience and interpret independence in their daily professional practice where enduring political control, financial dependency, and institutional subservience intersect to undermine journalistic autonomy. The study covers the past three decades, with particular emphasis on the final six years of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front regime and the six years following its dissolution. The lived experiences of nine research participants representing managers and editors-in-chief from broadcasters claiming to serve public interest were purposively selected for in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that intertwined political, financial, and legal entanglements have normalized institutional conformity within public broadcaster, undermining professional autonomy and transforming the broadcaster as an extension of incumbent political interests rather than a watchdog for the public. The researchers recommend that a democratic culture grounded in accountability, transparency, and provision of quality public service be fostered within the Public Service Broadcasting in Ethiopia. We suggest that the broadcasting should enhance their editorial independence and maintain institutional autonomy by depoliticizing governance, diversifying funding sources, and getting public support in terms of enforcing legal and policy safeguards.