Women's Status in FM Radio Stations - Tapa blanda

This study aims at examining representation, experience, practice, role and challenges of women journalists who work in FM radio stations in Addis Ababa using Feminist Communication Theories; Critical Mass, Glass Ceiling and Standpoint theory.Analysis of data showed that there are smaller numbers of women journalists than men journalists in the six stations. Additionally, private stations have better representation of women journalists than government stations. The research also finds out that fewer women reached senior management positions.The findings also suggest that young and well-educated women dominated the stations and also majority of women journalists have less than five years of professional experience. Women journalists widely assumed that they have a different perspective than men journalists in terms of selecting newsworthy items and story sources, reporting styles and changing the negative portrayal of women in the media. Women journalists claim that they faced difficulties in relation to their gender, as many accepted them first as women then as professionals.

Rahel is a print journalist. Currently she is working as Deputy Editor in Chief of Kumnagar magazine. She earned her BA degree in Foreign Languages and Literature and MA degree in Journalism and Communication from Addis Ababa University. She is a member of Ethiopian Media Women Association and Ethiopian Environment Journalists Association.