Journalism Education for Democratization: Lessons from Norway’s Experiment in Ethiopia

• In Event: The Production of Knowledge About Journalism: Academic, Professional and Educational Perspectives

Abstract

Although the number of journalism education programs in Sub-Saharan Africa has historically been low, recent trends indicate a rise both in scope and specialization. While this increase is usually attributed to higher education institutions’ response to market demands, certain journalism education programs are born out of development assistance initiatives that envision nation building processes of democratization and development. The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) is notable for its involvement in higher education journalism training at a graduate level in select developing countries. This paper assesses the presently discontinued involvement of NORAD in the establishment of a graduate journalism program at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia between 2004-2007. In doing so, it reviews what has been learned over the lifespan of NORAD’s sponsorship of the program by discussing what worked and what did not work.

Author

• Tewodros Workalemahu Workneh, Kent State University